Veteran's Agricultural Learning, Opportunities & Resources, provides a well rounded education and hands-on experience for veterans in preparation for employment in the agriculture industry. The curriculum will help veterans develop a portfolio of necessary skills relevant to present and future urban agriculture opportunities. VALOR will focus on the day-to-day requirements of urban farming, with an expanded view of local and global responsibilities toward sustainability and environmental stewardship. Certificate of Completion and 3.0 CEUs.
Graduates of the VLP will acquire basic understanding and skills in the following areas:
- Sustainable urban agriculture practices and operations
- Reformation and ground restoration
- Agricultural business assessments and requirements
- Farm organizations
- Relationship networking and resource references
- Business plan counseling
The Veteran's Agricultural Learning Program consists of 12 core sections of study as listed below:
- California Agriculture: Past, Present and Future
- California Agriculture: Laws and Regulations
- Environmental
- Labor
- Immigration
- Food Safety
- Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act
- Soil Conservation: History and Overview
- Dust Bowl
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Agronomy and Soil Biology Concepts
- Soil Fertility, Major and Minor Elements, Soil Amendments
- Fertilization Overview
- Water and Irrigation: History, Technology and Efficiencies
- California Water Wars
- Global Water Overview
- Irrigation: Past, Present and Future
- Regional Water Issues
- Strategies for Inclement Weather Conditions
- Pest Management: History and Overview
- Invasive Species: Background and Update
- Integrated Pest Management
- Pest Control Advisor and Applicator Credentials
- Organic Pest Control Measures
- Sustainable and Organic Certification
- Greenhouse and Algae Farming Systems
- Hydroponics and Hot Houses
- Algae Systems
- Hoop Houses and Vertical Agricultural Systems
- Management and Technology Needs
- Agriculture Machinery and Technology: History, Concepts and Practical Training
- Animal Power, Steam, Combustion, Electric Fuel Cell
- Implementation and Farm Tasks
- Scale of Field Production
- Field Preparation: Crop Selection and Cultivation
- Land Assessment
- Drainage
- Tillage and Amendments
- Equipment Selection
- Security Systems
- Harvest and Post Harvest Handling and Shipping: Past and Present
- Harvest Techniques and Practices
- Field to Table
- Fresh Market and Processing Overview
- Fresh Market Options
- Processing Options
- Farm Organizations
- California and Orange County Farm Bureaus
- California Alliance of Family Farmers
- Western Growers Association
- Non-Governmental Organizations (e.g. California Farm Academy)
- Commodity Boards and Commissions
- University of California Cooperative Extension
- Business Models & Development
- Agricultural Business Opportunities
- Evaluating Regional Markets
- Business Plan Models