US (NY): Cornell offers Berry Production distance learning course

If you’re exploring the idea of adding berries and bramble fruits to your farm, this course will help you consider all the aspects of this decision, from varieties and site selection all the way through profit potential and marketing.

Upon completion of this course, which starts November 7, you will understand:

Primary considerations when choosing a site for successful berry farming
Basic cultural demands of the 3 major berry crops (strawberry, blueberry and brambles)
Cultural requirements of an array of lesser known berry crops
Pest complexes of the major berry crops
Post-harvest requirements of berries
Considerations for successful marketing of berry crops
How to analyze costs vs. expenses and be able to incorporate them into a business plan

The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in MOODLE, Cornell's virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from outside presenters and ask questions to address your farm issues in real time. If you miss a webinar, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.

The Instructors are Laura McDermott, team leader and regional fruit and vegetable specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Eastern NY, and Jim O’Connell, the small fruits educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Ulster County, NY.

Source: Cornell University