SRJC Course Outlines

3/18/2024 9:45:00 PMVIT 51 Course Outline as of Fall 2022

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  VIT 51Title:  VITICULTURE: FALL PRACT  
Full Title:  Viticulture: Fall Practices
Last Reviewed:9/13/2021

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled2.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled35.00
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled3.0015 min.Lab Scheduled52.50
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total5.00 Contact Total87.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 57A

Catalog Description:
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Fall practices for wine grape production in the North Coast region, including budding, grape maturity monitoring, harvesting, pruning, varietal selection and vineyard development.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Fall practices for wine grape production in the North Coast region, including budding, grape maturity monitoring, harvesting, pruning, varietal selection and vineyard development.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1.  Identify and describe vineyard practices appropriate to the late summer and fall time period.
2.  Estimate accurate crop yield projections for various vineyard blocks.
3.  Identify and explain the criteria used to determine optimum time to harvest wine grapes.
4.  Develop a farm plan and budget appropriate for the late summer and fall time period.
5.  Evaluate fall practices performed and give recommendations for improvement.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Outline the key elements in the grape harvest process.
2. Estimate the size of the grape crop through field observation and data collection.
3. Outline vineyard management procedures during harvest.
4. Summarize criteria used to evaluate grape readiness for harvest.
5. Describe techniques for grape maturity sampling.
6. Describe post-harvest cultural practices.
7. Describe pruning methods and vine balance.
8. Develop a workable vineyard budget.
9. Describe different types of grape purchase contracts.
10. Describe various crop insurance options.

Topics and Scope
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I. Harvesting Grapes
    A. Vineyard sampling for sugar/acid ratios
    B. Techniques for maturity sampling
    C. Estimating crop size - crop projection
         1. Cluster counts
         2. Cluster weights
         3. Pounds (lbs.)/vine
         4. Tons/acre
    D. Vineyard management during harvest
         1. Irrigation
         2. Bunch rot control
         3. Basal leaf removal
         4. Crop load adjustments
         5. Use of refractometers and hand-held pH meters
    E. Harvest decision criteria
         1. Brix (sugar content)
         2. pH
         3. Titratable acid (T.A.)
    F. Improving grape quality concepts
         1. Color intensity
         2. Cultivar specific flavors and typicity
         3. Clones
    G. Hand vs. machine harvest
    H. Daytime vs. nighttime harvest
    I. Material Other than Grapes (MOG)
    J. Transporting grapes to the winery
II. Post-harvest Cultural Practices
    A. Post-harvest irrigation
    B. Post-harvest fertilization
    C. Post-harvest pest and disease control
III. Grapevine Pests, Diseases, and Symptoms (Fall)
    A. Fungal
    B. Bacterial
    C. Virus diseases
    D. Nematodes
IV. Erosion Control and Vineyard Winterization
    A. Cover crops
         1. Types of cover crops
         2. Criteria for selection
    B. Erosion control
         1. Drainage systems
         2. Drainage system repair and maintenance
    C. Hedgerows
V. Winter Weed Control
    A. Winter weed identification
    B. Herbicides
    C. Cultural Practices for weed control
    D. Mechanical Practices for weed control
VI. Pruning
    A. Pruning principles
    B. Pruning safety
    C. Types of pruning
         1. Cordon Pruning
         2. Cane Pruning
    D. Pruning techniques
         1. Machine pruning vs. hand pruning
         2. Pre-pruning
         3. Late pruning
    E. Vine balance for improving wine quality
VII. Farming Methodology Comparisons
    A. Organic practices and certification
    B. Sustainable practices and certification
    C. Integrated Pest Management practices
    D. Fish Friendly Farming and certification  
VIII. Vineyard Budgeting
    A. Various types of vineyard budgets
    B. Excel programs for vineyard budgeting and planning
IX. Grape Purchase Contracts
    A. Various types of contracts
    B. Long-term vs. short-term
    C. Spot market options
X. Crop Insurance
    A. Various types of crop insurance
    B. Catastrophic vs. complete coverage
XI. Pesticide Use Compliance and Reports
     A. Licensing
    B. Preparing and Submitting Pesticide Use Reports
XII. Vineyard Record Keeping
    A. Software
    B. Database management
XIII. Soil Health
     A. Definition
    B. Fertility Planning
     C. Use of traditional fertilizers
    D. Use of compost and compost tea
 
All lab topics will be aligned with lecture topics.

Assignments:
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1. Weekly readings (25 - 50 pages)
2. Weekly writing assignments (2 - 5 pages)
3. Weekly lab reports (3 - 6 pages)
4. Lab activities will include:
    A. Collect cluster samples; estimate total crop in the block, test degrees Brix and pH
    B. Develop vineyard budget
    C. One demonstration of pruning grapevines
    D. Develop one winter weed control plan (3 - 6 pages)
    E. Develop one soil health and fertility plan (3 - 6 pages)
5. One midterm and one final exam

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
10 - 20%
Weekly writing assignments
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
50 - 65%
Lab reports and activities
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
10 - 15%
Pruning grapevines
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
15 - 30%
Midterm, Final Exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 0%
None


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Pdf files instructor prepared and loaded into Canvas course website.

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