University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

December 18, 2006

Organic farming classes offered at UNL

Also see . . .
this week's CropWatch story on the Jan. 13 Organic and Natural Livestock Marketing Meeting.

Statistics show that the U.S. organic foods industry is growing at a rate of 15-20% per year, a trend that has been sustained for more than two decades. Organic sections are springing up in grocery stores and supermarkets everywhere, including large chain operations like WalMart.

This spring UNL is offering "Science-based Organic Farming," a series of five mini-courses on the history, production, certification and marketing of organic foods and products. Each course is available for academic credit, noncredit professional development or CEU-credit.

Registration is available online or by mail. To register online with a credit card, go to the ADEC eStore at: https://estore.adec.edu; to register by mail, contact Cathy Dickinson, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, 238 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915, 402-472-1730.

Course offerings

Overview of Organic Farming
Dates: January 8 - February 12 / Mondays, 6-9 p.m.
Location: 234 Keim Hall on the UNL East Campus
Instructor: Charles Francis, Extension sustainable ag/landscape design specialist
Description: This course introduces the principles of organic farming, including historical perspectives and certification standards. Topics include maintaining soil fertility, crop choices, cover crops, and holistic and integrated pest management, as applied to farming systems, vegetable systems and agroforestry.

Organic Farming Systems
Dates: February 19 - March 26/ Mondays, 6-9 p.m.
Location: 234 Keim Hall on the UNL East Campus
Instructor: Charles Francis, Extension sustainable ag/landscape design specialist
Description: This course focuses on organic farming practices, including choice of crops and cultivars, alternatives for building and maintaining soil fertility, pest management options, and overall crop and crop/livestock system design and function. Key reference materials about the scientific basis of organic and biodynamic farming practices also are discussed.

Current Issues in Organic Farming
Dates: April 2 - April 23/ Mondays, 6-9 p.m.
Location: 234 Keim Hall on the UNL East Campus
Instructor: Charles Francis, Extension sustainable ag/landscape design specialist
Description: This course covers contemporary organic farming topics, including criteria for certification of specific products, rules on rotations, non-use of GMO crops and animals, industrialization of organic production, mainstream marketing of organic products, political issues in the import and export of organic food, local versus organic food, and the future of organic farming and food systems.

Organic Vegetable Production
Dates: February 22 - March 29 / Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.
Location: 234 Keim Hall on the UNL East Campus
Instructors: Charles Francis, Extension sustainable ag/landscape design specialist, and Laurie Hodges, extension vegetable specialist
Description: This course covers the practical application of organic principles to vegetable production in small- to medium-sized farms, including choice of crop species, managing soil fertility and pests, mulching and companion planting, growing under controlled high tunnel conditions, integration of crop enterprises, and special challenges unique to vegetable production.

Marketing Organic Products
Dates: April 5 - April 26 / Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.
Location: 234 Keim Hall on the UNL East Campus
Instructors: Charles Francis, Extension sustainable ag/landscape design specialist, and Laurie Hodges, extension vegetable specialist, and David Lambe,
Descripton: This course covers the principles of marketing organic products and foods, including differentiating products, seeking new marketing outlets, institutional sales opportunities, CSAs, farmer markets, pick-your-own, on-farm sales outlets, and rules and regulations applicable to sales by individuals.

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Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran's status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.