11/21/2024 6:17:40 AM	SUSAG 116 Course Outline as of Fall 2015	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SUSAG 116	Title:  ORGANIC APPLE PRODUCTION
Full Title:  Organic Apple Production
Last Reviewed:9/13/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	.75		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	13.13
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.75			Contact Total	30.63
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 65.63

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

Catalog Description:

This course emphasizes organic apple production practices and is intended for current or potential apple producers. Emphasizes available and effective methods in commercial or small-scale organic contexts.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course emphasizes organic apple production practices and is intended for current or potential apple producers. Emphasizes available and effective methods in commercial or small-scale organic contexts.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
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:		Effective:		Inactive:
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:

1.  Establish an orchard so as to ensure optimal production.

2.  Select appropriate apple varieties and rootstocks for planting.

3.  Monitor an orchard for pests and utilize appropriate pest management control approaches.

4.  Manage harvest and post-harvest operations.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Comply with state and federal regulations pertaining to the production of organic apples.

2. Establish an orchard so as to ensure optimal production.

3. Select appropriate apple varieties and rootstocks for planting.

4. Manage the orchard floor to control weed competition and provide appropriate access.

5. List common diseases of apples and describe the symptoms and control methods.

6. List the common physiological disorders of apples and describe the symptoms and control methods.

7. Monitor an orchard for pests and utilize appropriate pest management control approaches.

8. Manage harvest and post-harvest operations.

9. Prune and train apple trees for optimal production.

10. Install and manage an irrigation system.

11. Discuss marketing considerations for organically grown apples.

Topics and Scope

I. Overview of the Organic Apple Industry

 A. Trends in organic production and markets

 B. Supply and price response

 C. Regulation of California organic apple production methods, including

    certification

II. Orchard Management

 A. Orchard culture

      1. Site selection

      2. Land preparation

      3. Planting

      4. Rootstock selection

      5. Variety selection

      6. Tree nutrition and fertilization

      7. Fruit thinning

      8. Pruning

      9. Irrigation timing

 B. Orchard floor management

      1. Weed control

      2. Cover crop selection and management

   C. Irrigation system

      1. Installation

      2. Management

   D. Equipment requirements

III. Disease and Pest Management

   A. Apple diseases

      1. Major apple diseases

         a. apple scab

         b. fire blight

      2. Minor apples diseases

         a. powdery mildew

         b. phytophthora root and crown rot

         c. oat root fungus

         d. dematophora root rot

         e. sappy bark

         f. southern blight

         g. European canker

         h. post-harvest rots

         i. viruses

    B. Physiological disorders

      1. Major: bitter pit

      2. Minor

         a. water core

         b. apple measles

    C. Insect and mite management

      1. Major

         a. codling moth

         b. aphids

       2. Minor

         a. mites

         b. tentiform leafminer

         c. leafrollers

    D. Vertebrate pest management

      1. Deer

      2. Gophers

      3. Rabbits

      4. Birds

IV. Harvest and Post-harvest Operations

 A. Pre-harvest factors

 B. Harvesting and packing

 C. Apple storage

 D. Sanitation during processing of organic apples

V. Marketing Considerations

 A. Quality

 B. Demand

 C. Marketing channels

 D. Promotion

VI. Economic Performance

 A. Yield

 B. Labor management

 C. Estimated costs and expected returns for organic apples

Assignments:

Assignments may include:

1. Develop a farm plan, including irrigation issues, fertilization, equipment needs, and marketing strategy (3-5 pages).

2. Lab: activities assigned according to the season in Shone Farm apple orchard e.g., pruning, monitoring for orchard pests, weed control methods for orchard floor.

3. Assigned reading totaling approximately 60 - 100 pages.

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 30 - 50%
Farm plan.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 30 - 50%
Lab activities.
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 0 - 0%
None
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 20%
Participation/attendance

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Organic Apple Production Manual. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3403. Regents of the University of California, 2000. (Classic)

Instructor prepared materials.

Print PDF