The university offers an online certificate in organic agriculture, the first of its kind in the U.S. The program caters to professionals working in agriculture or related fields who want to learn about organic systems as well as people interested in starting a Community Supported Agriculture farm or a career in organic agriculture. Courses include organic farming and gardening and soil, a living system. Internships at organic farms also are part of the curriculum.
The college offers a certificate of specialization in organic agriculture. Courses include transition to organic agriculture, organic field crop management, organic livestock production and composting and compost use. Students do not have to take required classes in any order and can take them as part of a distance education program.
The school offers a certificate program in organic agriculture that requires 15 credit hours. Required courses include organic agriculture seminar and fertility and pest management in organic agriculture. Elective options include farm organization and management, introduction to water resources, animal nutrition and feeding and evolution of human ecosystems. Organic agriculture seminar is the final course in the program and features industry speakers, discussion of case studies and final project presentations.
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association sponsors a two-day course entitled organic farming: principals and practices for people interested in starting an organic garden or converting to an organic diet. The course covers a variety of topics, including soil science, on-farm compost production, organic livestock production, marketing organic products, organic methods of weed and pest control, and organic certification. Organic farmers speak to classes about organic production of several popular commercial crops.