Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Natural Resources and Primary Agricultural Production
65.150 (3 credit hours)
Course Outline and Information for Students
Sept. 5, 2003
Instructors:
Dr. Tee Boon Goh
Dept. of Soil Science
311 Ellis Bldg.
474-6046
gohtb@ms.umanitoba.ca
Office Hours: 8:30-9:30 a.m. M-F
Dr. Jane C. Froese
Dept. of Plant Science
105 Agriculture Bldg.
474-6504
jane_froese@umanitoba.ca
Dr. Neil J. Holliday
Dept. of Entomology
214A Animal Science Bldg.
474-6020
neil_holliday@umanitoba.ca
11:30-12:30 M-F
11:30-12:00 M, W, F
9:00-10:00 T
All instructors are also available for individual consultation by appointment.
Teaching Assistants:
Rob Brogan
147A Agriculture Bldg.
474-6089
umbroga0@cc.umanitoba.ca
Kristi De Corby
147D Agriculture Bldg.
474-6089
umdecor1@cc.umanitoba.ca
Lynn Grant
210 Agriculture Bldg.
474-6068
umgrant6@cc.umanitoba.ca
Lynne Pinder
146 Animal Science Bldg.
474-9087
umpinde0@cc.umanitoba.ca
Prabal Ghosh
438 Engineering Bldg.
474-7292
umghoshp@cc.umanitoba.ca
Course Objective:
Introduce students to natural resources, as well as crop and livestock production
systems in Manitoba and around the world.
Reference Material:
Laboratory booklets are required for Labs 4, 7 and 8 and will be available for
purchase in class. Students will be notified when the booklets are available.
Suggested readings for this course will be placed on reserve in the William R.
Newman Library (Room 236 Agriculture Bldg.).
Lecture Time and Place: Mon., Wed., Fri.; 10:30 - 11:20 a.m. in Room 172 Agriculture Bldg.
Laboratory Time and Place: Mon., Tues., Thurs.; 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Room 245 Ellis Bldg.
Wed.; 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Room 343 Agriculture Bldg.
Please note exceptions to lab location in Laboratory Outline
Lecture Outline
1.
Introduction to Agricultural Systems (Froese - 6 lectures, Sept. 8 to 19)
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This section will include an overview of agricultural systems, the origins of agriculture and the position of
Manitoba and Canada in world agriculture. Origins of certain crops and the influence of soil, climate, trade,
transportation and technological advances on their distribution will also be discussed.
2. Introduction to the Agroecosystem (Goh - 15 lectures, Sept. 22 to Oct. 29)
This section will deal with life processes on earth as they relate to primary production and agriculture. Processes
to be considered are photosynthesis, energy flows and water cycling. Surface features such as soils, water and
vegetation will be discussed including how soils are formed and how soils and landscapes are changed by
farming. The concept of ecosystem balance on a farm scale will be introduced.
3. Primary Agricultural Production Systems (Froese - 8 lectures, Oct. 31 to Nov. 17)
This section deals with crop and livestock production systems in Manitoba and western Canada, as well as an
introduction to production systems in other parts of the world. The sustainability of production systems will be
discussed, including socioeconomic impacts of agriculture.
4. Agroecology: the Ecology of Agricultural Systems (Holliday - 6 lectures, Nov. 19 to Dec.1)
This section will introduce some principles of population and community ecology and compare how they apply
in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The implications of scale and heterogeneity of the agrifood system will
be discussed from the points of view of environmental, economic and social sustainability.
5.
Summary (Froese, Goh, Holliday - 1 lecture, Dec. 3)
Laboratory Outline
1. Computer Orientation: Sept. 8 to 11. Microcomputer lab - Room 137 Agriculture Building.
This laboratory is designed to familiarize students with word processing, spreadsheets, basic internet search
engines, and copy/paste functions integrating the above applications. The laboratory will begin with a brief
review of Microsoft Word and Excel, and then several short assignments will be given to the students to be
completed in the laboratory. Teaching Assistant: Prabal Ghosh.
2. Field Tour: Saturday, Sept. 13.
The purpose of the field tour is to familiarize students with the natural resources in Manitoba (as they relate to
agriculture), and with production agriculture itself. This experience will help students relate lecture material to
what actually happens in the field. The tour will leave the Univ. of Manitoba campus from Lot E (next to the
Agriculture Bldg. by the greenhouses) at 8:00 a.m. and we expect to return at 6:00 p.m. We will eat on the
buses, so bring your own lunch. Teaching Assistants: Rob Brogan, Kristi De Corby.
3. Agriculture Library Workshop I : Sept. 22 to 25. Microcomputer lab - Room 137 Ag. Building.
The workshop will introduce the students to the University of Manitoba Libraries and to library research. The
students will learn how to use Bison, the Libraries’ online catalogue, and will be expected to do an assignment
during the workshop. Instructor: M. Gregg (Agriculture Librarian).
4. From Geology to Soils: Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.
Students will examine specimens detailing different geological, petrographical, and pedological examples. The
context is within geomorphology, mineralogy, and soil biology. Soil profiles will be displayed and fresh
samples from surface and parent material examined. Teaching Assistants: Kristi De Corby, Lynn Grant.
5. Agriculture Library Workshop II: Oct. 6 to 9. Microcomputer lab - Room 137 Ag. Building.
This workshop teaches students how to search for scientific literature. In particular, students will learn how to
find references to articles published in periodicals by searching the NETDOC databases, particularly Agricola,
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the agriculture database. Students will also be taught how to find the periodicals in the library system.
Instructor: M. Gregg (Agriculture Librarian).
6. Writing Research Papers in Applied Sciences: Oct. 20 to 23.
Two short tutorials will be given to prepare students for writing their first essay in agriculture. The first tutorial
will focus on appropriate writing techniques, rhetoric and organization of material for academic writing in
general. The second will deal with the specific requirements for scientific writing, with emphasis on validity of
source material, and meeting the demands of scientific proof in writing.
Instructors: P. Mochhnacz, N. Holliday
7. Nutrient Management and Fertilizers: Oct. 27 to 30.
This exercise requires instruction in fertilizer formulation, analysis, methods of application and calculation of
rates and blends. Students will be required to abstract information from soil reports and make recommendations
based on soil test reports. Fertilizer use will be evaluated in relation to soil, climate and crop type grown.
Fertilizer use in commercial agriculture will be contrasted with fertilizer use in lawn care. Teaching Assistants:
Kristi De Corby, Lynn Grant.
8. Environmental Remediation: Nov. 3 to 6.
Students will be presented with a case study of an environmental problem (soil contamination). They will be
expected to assess the nature, severity and persistence of the problem, weigh quantitative against value
judgements, and initiate steps to remediate the soil. Students will be required to discuss measures of success
and the context in which the remediation was conducted. Teaching Assistants: Kristi De Corby, Lynn Grant.
9. Animal Agriculture Tutorial: Cow/Calf Production: Nov. 17 to 20.
A case study of a Manitoba cow-calf farm will be given, as well as the outline of the reproductive cycle of the
beef cow for a 12-month period. Stages to be discussed include lactation, breeding and gestation. General
dietary requirements for the animal during these stages will be discussed. Teaching Assistant: Lynne Pinder.
10. Ecological Processes: Nov. 24 to 27.
Through game and role-playing, students will explore effects of management and heterogeneity on population
processes and environmental impacts. At the end of the laboratory period, students will discuss the conclusions
they can draw from their results, and their agroecological implications. Instructor: N. Holliday
University Policy on Plagiarism & Cheating and Personation at Examination:
See the University of Manitoba 2002-2003 Undergraduate Calendar or
http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/calendar03/regulations/plagiarism.asp
http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/calendar03/regulations/exams/exams_personations.asp.
Useful Dates to Remember:
First and Last Day of Class
Voluntary Withdrawal
Final Examination Period
No Classes on
Sept. 5, Dec. 3
Nov. 12
Dec. 5-18
Thanksgiving Day - Oct. 13
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Distribution of Marks
Percent of Final
Grade
Lecture Portion
Date (if applicable)
Comments
60%
Mid-term Test
20
Will be held on
Oct. 17.
Will cover material up to
and including Oct. 15.
Written Assignment
10
Assignment due on
Nov. 17 at classtime.
Assignment will be
handed out on October
20.
Final Exam
30
Scheduled by
university
Will cover material from
before and after the midterm test.
Due Sept. 22 at
classtime.
Do not receive marks if
not on tour
Lab Portion
Field tour assignment
Attendance at labs 1, 3,
5, 6 and 10
Lab assignments: labs
4, 7, 8 and 9
Total Marks
40%
11
5 (1 mark per lab)
24 (6 marks per lab)
Assignments are due
at 4:00 pm one week
following the lab and
should be given to
Sandra Kolisnyk in
Room 222
Agriculture Bldg.
100
To get credit for a lab assignment, students must attend the lab.
Evaluative feedback (i.e., results of mid-term test and some lab assignments) will be given to students prior to
the voluntary withdrawal date.
Students cannot pass the course unless they submit the mid-term test, written assignment, final exam and obtain
a passing grade on the lab portion of the course.
Policy on Late Submission of Assignments: 10% reduction every 24-hour period.
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