VALOR Program Curriculum

VALOR Program Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of the VALOR Program will acquire basic understanding and skills in the following areas:

• Sustainable urban agriculture practices and operations
• Reforestation and ground restoration
• Agricultural business assessments and requirements
• Relationship networking
• Business plan writing

 

The VALOR Program consists of 12 core sections as listed below:

VALOR 101 California Agriculture: Past, Present and Future

VALOR 102 California Agriculture: Laws and Regulations
a. Environmental
b. Labor
c. Immigration
d. Food Safety
e. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act

VALOR 103 Soil Conservation: History and Overview
a. Dust Bowl
b. Natural Resources Conservation Service
c. Agronomy and Soil Biology Concepts
d. Soil Fertility, Major and Minor Elements, Soil Amendments
e. Fertilization Overview

VALOR 104 Water and Irrigation: History, Technology and Efficiencies
a. California Water Wars
b. Global Water Overview
c. Irrigation: Past, Present and Future
d. Regional Water Issues
e. Strategies for Inclement Weather Conditions

VALOR 105 Pest Management: History and Overview
a. Invasive Species: Background and Update
b. Integrated Pest Management
c. Pest Control Advisor and Applicator Credentials
d. Organic Pest Control Measures
e. Sustainable and Organic Certification

VALOR 106 Greenhouse and Algae Farming Systems
a. Hydroponics and Hot Houses
b. Algae Systems
c. Hoop Houses and Verticle Agricultural Systems
d. Management and Technology Needs

VALOR 107 Ag. Machinery and Technology: History, Concepts and Training a. Animal Power, Steam, Combustion, Electric Fuel Cell
a. Implementation and Farm Tasks
b. Scale of Field Production

VALOR 108 Field Preparation: Crop Selection and Cultivation
a. Land Assessment
b. Drainage
c. Tillage and Amendments
d. Equipment Selection
e. Security Systems

VALOR 109 Harvest and Post Harvest Handling/Shipping: Past and Present
a. Harvest Techniques and Practices
b. Field to Table

VALOR 110 Fresh Market and Processing Overview
a. Fresh Market Options
b. Processing Options

VALOR 111 Farm Organizations
a. California and Orange County Farm Bureaus
b. California Alliance of Family Farmers
c. Western Growers Association
d. Non-Governmental Organizations (e.g. California Farm Academy)
e. Commodity Boards and Commissions
f. University of California Cooperative Extension

VALOR 112 Business Models and Development
a. Agricultural Business Opportunities
b. Evaluating Regional Markets
c. Business Plan Models