Module Title:Organic Field Vegetables Production
Language of Instruction:English
Credits: 5
NFQ Level:8
Module Delivered In 1 programme(s)
Teaching & Learning Strategies: Formal lectures will be accompanied by specific practical, field work, and site visits. This will enable a deeper understanding of theoretical and practical applications examining best practice in the sector. Classroom based theory will concentrate on requirements for field scale organic vegetable production including crop production, management and harvesting techniques. Specialised equipment and machinery requirements will be explored as will market specifications. Practical, field work and site visits will be used to give students insight into a variety of aspects of production at farm and retail level.
Module Aim: This module aims to examine field scale production of organic vegetables ensuring that the learner is familiar with production techniques, regulatory requirements and specific equipment for field scale crop production. Crop planning, site preparation, fertility and weed control, and market requirements will all form part of the learning in this module.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate a detailed understanding of field scale organic vegetable production.
LO2 Demonstrate knowledge of field scale management techniques including soil cultivation, weeding, and harvesting.
LO3 Illustrate competency in regulatory requirements and specific equipment used in the sector.
LO4 Demonstrate an understanding of production, packaging, storage, and marketing of organic field vegetables.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Crop planning for organic field scale vegetable production
This module explores crop planning and succession cropping for a wide range of crops. Learners will become familiar with suitable crop varieties, organic seed production, seed propagation and raising organic transplants. Open pollinated seed production and seed saving techniques will be incorporated into the learning process. Lectures will be complimented by site visits to commercial field scale operators.
Organic production practices
Learners will be exposed to crop production along the complete supply chain. This includes soil cultivation techniques, crop rotation and soil fertility, specialist field scale machinery, pest and disease control, transplanting equipment, weeding techniques and regulatory requirements.
Harvesting, storage and marketing organic crops
Learners will examine harvesting and post harvesting requirements to ensure crop viability. Practical aspects of this module will explore harvesting techniques, cold storage facilities and sustainable packaging to enhance the shelf life of organic vegetables. Strategies that develop KPI’s for field scale production will be explored. Lectures will be complimented by site visits to appropriate producers supplying into retail multiples and selling direct to consumers to gain practical experience of marketing organic vegetables.
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment50.00%
End of Module Formal Examination50.00%
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Project Students are required to outline the farm to fork process for two selected crops encompassing all aspects of production, storage and marketing. 1,2,3,4 50.00 Ongoing
No Project
No Practical
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Formal Exam Terminal Exam 1,2,3 50.00 End-of-Semester
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Project Students are required to outline the farm to fork process for two selected crops encompassing all aspects of production, storage and marketing. 1,2,3 50.00 n/a
No Project
No Practical
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Formal Exam Terminal Examination 1,2,3 50.00 End-of-Semester

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture 12 Weeks per Stage 2.00
Practicals 12 Weeks per Stage 1.00
Independent Learning Time 12 Weeks per Stage 3.00
Total Hours 72.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture 12 Weeks per Stage 2.00
Practicals 12 Weeks per Stage 1.00
Independent Learning Time 12 Weeks per Stage 3.00
Total Hours 72.00
 

Module Delivered In

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CW_SWOAG_B Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Organic Agriculture 7 Elective