Course Description:

Farming Foundations is a self-paced, online course developed by Clemson Extension.This course will teach beginner and advanced farmers the foundations to get their farms moving in the right direction. The class is focused on vegetable production but many topics such as soil testing, fertility, and irrigation can be applied to many different farming ventures. At the completion of the class, participants will have a portfolio that will help them in their farming journey.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Describe basic farming principles, terms, and techniques
Select appropriate farming methods based on your situation
Identify tools and equipment you will need on your farm and explain their use
Collect agricultural samples and send them for testing
Minimize risk and promote safety on your farm
Develop and design plans for a successful farm
Identify people and resources to help you on your farming journey

Course Topics:

Soil basics
Fertility
Farm safety
Tractors
Small tools & cost saving on the farm
Land preparation
Calculating fertilizer & lime rates
Irrigation basics and set up
Seeds & transplants
Clemson Extension Agent assistance & lab services
Using the crop handbook
Agricultural supply chain

Course Requirements:

In Farming Foundations, we are offering two paths for the way you choose to engage with this course.

Farm Resources Path: The Farm Resources Path is best for farmers who want to have access to basic information about farming in the form of instructional videos and resources, but they may not have the time or be interested in completing the recommended fieldwork and/or consulting individually with an Extension agent at this time. There are no formal requirements for the Farm Resources Path.

Farming Foundations Portfolio & Consultation Path: The Farming Foundations Portfolio & Consultation Path is best for farmers who want to learn all the farming basics, take action to implement their acquired skills and strategies, and have an individual consultation with an Extension agent to discuss the specifics of their farming situation. A minimum of five fieldwork activities is required to prepare for the consultation. This path will be required for farmers who want to take other Fruit & Vegetable courses from Clemson Extension in the future.

Technical Requirements:

To Participate fully in this course, you will need:

An active email address for the individual participating in the course.
A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently
Access to a high-speed internet connection.
A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.
Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available)
Computer skills including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

Need Help?

If you need help accessing or registering for a course, please contact Clemson Online at onlineplus@clemson.edu/
Our support email is monitored Monday-Friday from 8:00-4:30. If you contact us in the evening or on the weekend, we will help you during the next business day.
Please do not contact CCIT regarding CPE courses. Please reach out to Clemson Online so that we can assist you.

Enroll inFarming Foundations