The Center for Environmental Farming Systems

On-the-job Training

• Crop Production
  • Crop Planning - Assess site (e.g. map and analyze soils, topography, water, drainage, infrastructure, climate and microclimates)
  • Crop Planning - Understand a crop plan
  • Crop Planning - Understand crop planting schedule and record keeping system
  • Crop Planning - Understand how to design field layout (e.g., succession planting, crop rotation, roads and walkways, borders
  • Crop Planning - Review pest and weed management options
  • Crop Planning - Understand how to order field supplies (e.g. labels, stakes, trellises, twine)
  • Crop Planning - Consult the field plan
  • Crop Planning - Keep record of change to field plan
  • Variety Selection - Understand how to select varieties appropriate to climate, pest pressure
  • Variety Selection - Understand where to seek resources about emerging or high performing varieties
  • Variety Selection - Observe how varieties perform under varying climatic conditions
  • Variety Selection - Analyze the performance of different crop varieties for selecting varieties for future seasons
  • Transplanting - Learn where/how to acquire transplants
  • Transplanting - Transplant crops
  • Transplanting - Plant bulbs/tubers
  • Transplanting - Irrigate transplants
  • Transplanting - Record transplant planting
  • Direct Seeding - Sow vegetable seeds in fields
  • Direct Seeding - Irrigate seeds
  • Direct Seeding - Record seedling planting
  • Direct Seeding - Replant or reseed failed plants
  • Greenhouse Management - Seed vegetable crop into trays
  • Greenhouse Management - Prepare greenhouse-growing media
  • Greenhouse Management - Harden off seedlings
  • Greenhouse Management - Pot up seedlings
  • Greenhouse Management - Maintain seedling fertility
  • Greenhouse Management - Monitor seedling development
  • Greenhouse Management - Assess germination and seedling growth
  • Propagation - Understand functions of different types of propagation facilities (heated vs passive solar greenhouses, high tunnels, etc)
  • Propagation - Understand greenhouse seeding calendar and schedule
  • Propagation - Select appropriate growing containers to seed/propagate plants
  • Propagation - Prepare propagation medium mixes
  • Propagation - Start seeds in containers
  • Irrigation - Understand benefits of different irrigation systems
  • Irrigation - Irrigate for conservation
  • Irrigation - Understand reasons for irrigation
  • Irrigation - Learn methods of determining the proper frequency of irrigation
  • Irrigation - Examine various system designs and delivery methods and investigate advantages and disadvantages
  • Irrigation - Recognize signs and effects of water stress
  • Irrigation - Assess soil moisture and irrigation needs in planted beds
  • Irrigation - Set up irrigation system
  • Irrigation - Understand irrigation schedule
  • Irrigation - Keep good records of irrigation activity
  • Field Prep - Lay out beds
  • Field Prep - Prepare seedbeds
  • Field Prep - Shape beds
  • Field Prep - Lay plastic mulch or landscape fabric
  • Field Management - Assess weather conditions
  • Field Management - Assess field conditions and plant health
  • Field Management - Prepare equipment, supplies, seeds and transplants
  • Field Management - Construct and install plant supports
  • Field Management - Assess plant health
  • Field Management - Determine plant needs based on harvest goals
  • Field Management - Mulch crops
  • Field Management - Prune plants
  • Field Management - Thin plants
  • Field Management - Hill plants
  • Field Management - Train plants
  • Field Management - Irrigate plants
  • Field Management - Keep good field records (e.g. planting and harvest dates, inputs, yields, crop health)
  • Harvesting - Assess plant maturity for harvest
  • Harvesting - Project yield
  • Harvesting - Determine harvest requirements
  • Harvesting - Prepare harvesting equipment and supplies
  • Harvesting - Understand the requirements and implications of food safety
  • Harvesting - Properly handle harvest aids (e.g., knives, buckets, scissors)
  • Harvesting - Harvest crop to farm standards
  • Harvesting - Bunch harvested produce
  • Harvesting - Field pack crops
  • Harvesting - Provide sun protection to harvested crops
  • Harvesting - Transport crop to processing facility
• Soil Health
  • Reading & interpreting soil test reports - Prepare soil samples for testing
  • Reading & interpreting soil test reports - Understand why and how to take soil samples, what to test for and what to do with the results
  • Reading & interpreting soil test reports - Read and interpret soil test results
  • Small-scale no till - Assess appropriate crops/cover crops for no-till system
  • Small-scale no till - Assess seeding and transplanting for no-till beds
  • Small-scale no till - Apply tarps
  • Mechanical cultivation - Understand the term conservation tillage
  • Mechanical cultivation - Observe primary tillage
  • Mechanical cultivation - Perform mechanical cultivation for weed pressure
  • Mechanical cultivation - Incorporate cover crop
  • Mechanical cultivation - Cultivate/prepare beds with mechanical implements
  • Soil Biology and Ecology - Understand biological properties of soils
  • Soil Biology and Ecology - Understand value of buffer strips
  • Soil Biology and Ecology - Understand soil characteristics and how they affect crop growth
  • Soil Biology and Ecology - Understand how managing for healthy soil ecosystems can increase fertility and impact sustainable crop production
  • Soil Chemistry & Fertility - Understand the chemical properties of soils
  • Soil Chemistry & Fertility - Select and acquire soil amendments
  • Soil Chemistry & Fertility - Understand farm fertility program and record keeping system
  • Soil Chemistry & Fertility - Understand fundamentals of managing soil pH
  • Soil Chemistry & Fertility - Perform side dressing and/or foliar feeding
  • Soil Physical Properties - Classify soil texture and type
  • Soil Physical Properties - Prevent soil and nutrient loss
  • Soil Physical Properties - Understand how soils form
  • Soil Physical Properties - Assess appropriate soil moisture levels for tillage
  • Soil Quality Assessment - Assess soil capacity to retain and drain water
  • Soil Quality Assessment - Assess soil structure: clumping, crusting etc
  • Soil Quality Assessment - Assess weeds/plants as indicator of water flow, nutrients
  • Cover Crops - Select cover crop varieties and combinations
  • Cover Crops - Seed cover crop
  • Cover Crops - Mow cover crop
  • Cover Crops - Terminate cover crop
  • Crop Rotation - Understand how crop rotation impacts soil health
  • Crop Rotation - Assess crop rotation plan related to soil health
  • Compost - Build and maintain compost piles
  • Compost - Understand value of crop residue as conservation practice
  • Compost - Apply compost
  • Compost - Incorporate crop residue into soil
• Ecologically-Based Pest Management (weeds, insects, diseases)
  • Beneficial Insects - Understand the properties/attributes of beneficial insects
  • Beneficial Insects - Identify common beneficial insects at all life stages
  • Beneficial Insects - Release beneficial insects
  • Natural Habit Management - Understand how to make wildlife habitat improvements
  • Natural Habit Management - Understand value of field borders
  • Natural Habit Management - Understand methods of waterway protection
  • Natural Habit Management - Examine whole-farm system from an ecological perspective
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Assess insect pests pressure, e.g. potential or actual
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Scouting
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Identify common insect pests
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Perform preventative insect pest measures
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Evaluate pest damage
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Implement cultural control methods for insect pests (selecting varieties, crop rotation, planting time)
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Implement physical control methods for insect pests (e.g. row cover, picking pests off, traps)
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Implement biological insect control method (e.g. spraying)
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Evaluate efficacy of insect pest control method
  • Managing Arthropod Pests - Record control treatment
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Assess disease pressure, e.g. potential or actual
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Identify common diseases
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Implement cultural control methods for disease prevention (plant spacing, trellising)
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Implement physical control methods for disease prevention (e.g. pruning, mulching)
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Implement biological disease control methods (e.g. improving soil health, increasing beneficial microbial activity in soil)
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Evaluate disease damage
  • Managing Plant Diseases - Evaluate efficacy of disease control method
  • Weed Management - Prevent weed and weed seed formation
  • Weed Management - Assess weed pressure, potential or actual
  • Weed Management - Evaluate weed damage
  • Weed Management - Identify weeds
  • Weed Management - Determine weeding method
  • Weed Management - Perform non-mechanical weeding (hand weeding)
  • Weed Management - Perform mechanical cultivation (walk behind tractor, tractor implement)
  • Weed Management - Implement cultural control methods for weed management (mulching, plant spacing)
  • Weed Management - Implement physical control methods for weed management (e.g. flaming, hoeing, pulling, mulching)
  • Weed Management - Implement biological control method for weed management (e.g. livestock, cover crops for smothering weeds)
  • Weed Management - Perform mulching
  • Intercropping - Understand the principles of intercropping
  • Intercropping - Understand different companion planting configurations
  • Intercropping - Select crops for intercropping in field
  • Intercropping - Assess effects of intercropping on each crop's productivity and health
• Equipment and Machinery
  • Proper Selection Of Tool For Task - Select proper tools for the task
  • Proper Use of the Tool - Use tools safely
  • Maintain Tools - Store tools, equipment and supplies (e.g. safely, in good order)
  • Maintain Tools - Sharpen, clean, store tools during non-production time
  • Maintain Equipment - Inspect production equipment
  • Maintain Equipment - Establish preventive maintenance schedule for equipment
  • Maintain Equipment - Establish parts inventory
  • Maintain Equipment - Perform routine equipment service (e.g. sharpening blades, changing oil, greasing equipment, cleaning tractor)
  • Maintain Equipment - Repair production equipment
  • Maintain Equipment - Clean production equipment
  • Manage Supplies - Understand farm supply inventory system
  • Maintain Farm Infrastructure - Put up and maintain electric fence
  • Maintain Farm Infrastructure - Understand operations and maintenance of cold storage infrastructure
  • Maintain Farm Infrastructure - Understand operations and maintenance of wells/irrigation infrastructure
  • Maintain Farm Infrastructure - Maintain barns/sheds in good working condition
  • Tractor Safety - the basic functions, safety features, and operations of a tractor and its implements
  • Tractor Use and Maintenance - Understand basic tractor implements and their use: plows, tillers, cultivation, transplanting, fertilizing & irrigation
  • Tractor Use and Maintenance - Understand impact of tractor implements on soil health (biological life, tilth)
  • Tractor Use and Maintenance - Understand basic tractor maintenance (Engine oil coolant; Fuel; Hydraulic fluid; tire and wheel properly maintained, battery maintained, hose conditions)
  • Tractor Use and Maintenance - Understand the basic principles of bed and field layout related to tractor implements and tool specifications
  • Tractor Use and Maintenance - Safely hitch implements
  • Tractor Use and Maintenance - Safely drive tractor using basic tractor implements (plow, cultivator, bed maker)
  • Irrigation Systems - Understand the basic concept of when to use: overhead, drip, furrow, hand watering in farming systems
  • Irrigation Systems - Understand the basic equipment for irrigation systems including pumps, wells, sprinkler heads, tubing, and emitters
  • Irrigation Systems - Understand the basic setup considerations for irrigation system including placement of sprinklers, drip tape, furrows etc
  • Irrigation Systems - Set up driplines in bed
  • Irrigation Systems - Set up driplines to header pipes
  • Irrigation Systems - Set up layflat, header pipes to pump/water source
  • Irrigation Systems - Operate a pump for field irrigation
  • Irrigation Systems - Perform pump maintenance (priming, foot valves, flushing)
  • Irrigation Systems - Set up overhead sprinklers including moving and connecting pipes
• Business Management & Marketing
  • Farm Enterprises - Determine potential of farm enterprises
  • Farm Enterprises - Assess overall needs (e.g. physical, capital, human; skills, experience, time, land, equipment, profitability)
  • Farm Enterprises - Assess available resources for farm success (e.g. physical, capital, human; skills, experience, time, land, equipment, profitability)
  • Farm Enterprises - Conduct market research and competitive analysis (e.g. research potential competition, markets, customers, and strate.g.ies)
  • Farm Enterprises - Set prices for products
  • Farm Enterprises - Collect enterprise feedback from customers
  • Farm Enterprises - Read customer surveys and feedback
  • Farm Budget - Understand farm budget and know how to read profit and loss statements
  • Farm Budget - Prepare enterprise budgets
  • Farm Budget - Understand how to maintain operating budget
  • Employee & Labor Management - Assess personal management style
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand farm labor plan
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand how to write job descriptions
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand how to recruit labor
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand labor policies and procedures
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand how to develop staff work schedule
  • Employee & Labor Management - Assign daily tasks
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand how to train farm workers (e.g. fieldwork, efficiency, equipment safety and personal care)
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand different management techniques to supervise farm workers
  • Employee & Labor Management - Understand how to evaluate staff work performance
  • Employee & Labor Management - Conduct staff meetings
  • Financial Management - Understand financial plan (e.g. annual budget, expense and sales forecasts, cash flow projections, break even analysis, capitalization plan)
  • Financial Management - Understand needed insurance policies
  • Financial Management - Process invoices
  • Financial Management - Prepare bank deposits
  • Financial Management - Proces reimbursements
  • Financial Management - Understand how to process payroll
  • Who Should You Know? - Understand what an FSA agent offers a farm operation
  • Who Should You Know? - Understand what Extension Agents offer a farm operation
  • Who Should You Know? - Understand what CFSA Farm Services staff offer a farm operation
  • Who Should You Know? - Understand what NRCS Agent offers a farm operation
  • Marketing - Understand basic concepts of marketing plan
  • Marketing - Identify customers and target market
  • Marketing - Knowledge of different marketing channels and how to set-up business accordingly: direct-to-consumer (farmers markets, CSA), working with food hub/purchaser (intermediate); wholesale; agritourism
  • Marketing - Perform market inventory
  • Marketing - Understand the concept and potential benefits of agritourism
  • Marketing - Manage market activities for at least one market channel
  • Online Marketing - Understand how to develop brand and logo
  • Online Marketing - Plan for social networking presence
  • Online Marketing - Understand an online marketing plan
  • Online Marketing - Use of online marketing platforms including CSA software, social media platforms, POS software
  • Online Marketing - Maintain website
  • Online Marketing - Maintain email/contact database
  • Online Marketing - Create and post social media content
  • Online Marketing - Update product listing and prices
  • Certifications - Knowledge of GAP and how certification is achieved
  • Certifications - Understand what is Certified Organic Farm status and how certification is achieved
  • Certifications - Understand alternative certification programs including Naturally Certified Grown, Biodynamic etc
  • Certifications - Knowledge of how to participate in emergency food programs (e.g. SNAP at farmers market)
• Social Implications of Ag Systems
  • Development of US Agriculture - Understand the history and current implications of the colonization of US lands for native peoples
  • Development of US Agriculture - Understand the historic roots of and current implications of slavery in US agriculture
  • Development of US Agriculture - Understanding the history of farmworker rights and movements in US agriculture
  • Development of US Agriculture - Understand the history of development of conventional agriculture as it relates to fuel, chemical inputs, seed patents etc and environmental implications
  • Environmental Issues in Modern Agriculture - Understand the methods associated with and social roots of the term: organic, sustainable agriculture, permaculture, biodynamics, resilient agriculture, resilient ag, climate smart ag
  • Environmental Issues in Modern Agriculture -Understand the term "regenerative ag", its tenets and relation to indigenous practices of agriculture
  • Nourish Family & Community Relations - Awareness of community networks, organizations, and dynamics where the farm is located
  • Nourish Family & Community Relations - Understand the social and economic motivators and outcomes of hosting events for farmer and farm
  • Nourish Family & Community Relations - Understand the social and economic motivators and outcomes of participating in community organizations and events for the farmer and farm
  • Nourish Family & Community Relations - Create schedules that reflect personal desire for wellbeing including time off farm, personal relationships, non farming activities during the agricultural season
  • Nourish Family & Community Relations - Awareness of local businesses that support the farming community
  • Nourish Family & Community Relations - Cooperative relationships with other farmers, businesses, and organizations
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Understand systemic racism for BIPOC farmers related to US governmental programs and agencies (e.g. USDA, EPA)
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Understand systemic racism for BIPOC farmers related to land access
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Ability to articulate the land back movement
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Ability to articulate the meaning of terms: hunger, food security, food desert and apartheid, food sovereignty
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Ability to articulate the elements of a community food system
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Understand injustices and labor movements of US farmworkers (CIW)
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Understand how local and regional food systems contribute to resilience in an emergency (COVID-19) and overall
  • Social Justice in Agriculture - Understand concepts of US emergency food system including government (SNAP) and community programs (food pantries)
• Season Extension
  • Tunnel Production - Understand how to install high and/or low tunnels
  • Tunnel Production - Understand the different properties of tunnel plastics
  • Tunnel Production - Understand the proper placement of tunnels
  • Tunnel Production - Understand the costs and benefits of tunnels
  • Tunnel Production - Establish beds in tunnel
  • Tunnel Production - Soil management in tunnel
  • Tunnel Production - Perform pest management in high tunnels
  • Tunnel Production - Manage temperature/climate in high tunnels
  • Variety Selection - Select varieties that are best suited for each season
  • Variety Selection - Time planting of crops and varieties suitable for each season
  • Variety Selection - Evaluate what worked and didn't to improve crop planning in following season
  • Row Covers - Understand different characteristics and uses of row cover
  • Row Covers - Understand different models of hoops for placing row cover
  • Row Covers - Understand conditions that warrant the use or not of row cover
  • Row Covers - Store row cover for long-term use
  • Mulching - Select and evaluate mulch properties and uses
  • Mulching - Lay down landscape fabric for season extension
  • Mulching - Lay down black/white plastic on beds for season extension
  • Mulching - Apply organic mulches for season extension/capture warmth
  • Mulching - Remove and store landscape fabric
  • Mulching - Remove and dispose of black plastic
  • Shade Protection - Select shade cloth for season extension
  • Shade Protection - Install shade cloth for season extension
• Post Harvest Handling & Crop Quality
  • Food Safety - Certified in safe food handling
  • Food Safety - Conduct safe food handling of vegetables post harvest
  • Post Harvest Handling & Quality - Clean crop
  • Post Harvest Handling & Quality - Cool crop
  • Post Harvest Handling & Quality - Sort crop
  • Post Harvest Handling & Quality - Grade crop
  • Post Harvest Handling & Quality - Record crop harvest
  • Packing - Label crop
  • Packing - Determine packing order
  • Packing - Pack product
  • Storage - Store crop in appropriate box/container
  • Storage - Store crop in appropriate temperature (e.g. cooler, warehouse)
  • Storage - Cure crop
  • Storage - Store crop in appropriate temperatures for longevity
  • Shipping & Delivery - Load products
  • Shipping & Delivery - Establish delivery times and pickup points
  • Shipping & Delivery - Determine packing order
  • Shipping & Delivery - Total sales
  • Shipping & Delivery - Maintain return inventory