UC sustainable ag, organic farming summer course

The University of California, Davis is offering an eight-week summer course Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming: Principles and Practices June 27 to Aug. 18, 2005. Thirteen hours of field activities per week are combined with lectures, discussions and field trips to provide an in-depth introduction to sustainable agriculture and organic farming practices, with a focus on annual crop production. Field activities focus on developing a broad range of practical skills and knowledge used in commercial organic crop production, including crop, soil, water, and pest management, composting, tractor and equipment operations, and harvesting and marketing crops. Lectures and discussions focus on the scientific principles of sustainable agriculture and organic practices and explore broader issues related to agricultural sustainability.

The five-unit course meets Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (end times may vary) and is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. For information, contact Mark Van Horn, (530) 752-7645, mxvanhorn@ucdavis.edu.