Agriculture I (Introduction to Agriculture)

Level: 9-12

Credit: 1 unit

Prerequisite: None

Agriculture I offers students with an interest in agriculture the opportunity to explore animal production, crop production, agriculture mechanics, natural resources, and farm business management. In addition to the listed subject areas, students gain exposure to the function of the school’s FFA program. This class may count as a science credit for graduation.

Precision Farming Systems

Level: 10-12

Credit: 1/2 unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture I

Explores the concepts of Site Specific Agriculture (Precision Farming) and how it can improve profitability in a total crop management system. Students will use a basic GIS program to analyze data from a farm operation.

Horticulture

Level: 10-12

Credit: ½ unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture I

This course exposes students to the art and science of growing plants, shrubs, trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. In doing so, they cover a wide variety of topics, including greenhouse and nursery operations, soils and media mixtures, fruit and vegetable production, turf/golf course management, interior and exterior plantscaping, irrigation systems, weed and pest control, and floral design.

Veterinary Science

Level: 10-12

Credit: ½ unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture I

This course covers topics including the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals, typically emphasizing domestic and farm animals. Course topics focus on anatomy and physiology, nutrition, behavior, and reproduction.

Landscape Design

Level: 10-12

Credit: ½ unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture I and Horticulture

Students will learn about the various aspects related to landscaping the home environment. Topics include analysis of the site, reading and producing a landscape design, basic art principles, site preparation, and instillation of decks, patios, walks, fencing and plants. In addition, students will learn how to care for the landscape environment through the use of proper fertilization, integrated pest management and pruning techniques. Students will be responsible for completing a sizeable class project.

Professional Leadership & Preparation

Level: 11-12

Credit: ½ unit

Prerequisite: None

This class is designed to discuss leadership and careers. We will look at the skills necessary to be a leader, how to work as a team, manage people and many additional career-related topics. Topics will include team building exercises, personality profiles, career interest profiling, parliamentary procedure, and specific leadership qualities, with others to be developed from student interest. This class will be highly project-oriented 8 and will include writing assignments, team and individual projects and other journals. All information will be presented in terms of how it affects you as a student, an individual, and a future leader in society.

*Crop Science

Level: 11-12

Credit: ½ unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture I

This class provides an overview of crop management. It introduces the principles of plant-soil-climate relationships.

*Animal Science

Level: 11-12

Credit: 1/2 unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture I

This class provides an overview of the animal science industry. It explores breeds, basic management, and farm animal marketing. Topics include beef and dairy cattle, companion animals, horses, poultry, sheep and swine.

*Farm Management

Level: 11-12

Credit: ½ unit

Prerequisite: Agriculture 1

This course provides an overview of the farm management process and the process of farm decision making. It includes record keeping, budgeting, year-end analysis, enterprise analysis, and tax management.