Have you ever thought about learning farming online? If you have, then you have been provided the opportunity to learn some of the good free online farming courses through this blog post.
Farming has been a menial work right from its roots, which later advanced to the use of tractors and some specific animals like bulls to make ridges for large farmlands. A lot of farm work has been modernized over the years to make the workload easier for people to handle.
This being said it is no longer surprising that there are opportunities to learn how to farm online as the world has gone digital through different online learning platforms like Coursera, Alison, edX, Udemy, and a host of others where interested individuals go to acquire knowledge and skills of their choice.
Online learning platforms have served as a medium in which we learn from anywhere and at any time, thereby making it easy for anyone who wishes to know one thing or the other. Today, many people have acquired a whole lot of certificates, skills, and knowledge just by signing up for an online course. Some even bagged their bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degrees through online learning platforms.
There are tons of online courses on the internet today, the majority of which are free while others are paid, but in all, they equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge needed for the role for which they signed up. Depending on the aspect one is interested in, you can acquire the needed knowledge in that field. Since farming is a part of agriculture, you can decide to take up free online courses on animal husbandry to learn all about the behavior of animals and how to take care of them.
Since farming is the major means used to bring food to the table for humans, you can decide to learn food safety courses to ensure that the food you consume is good and healthy for consumption after harvesting it. Since this article is focused on free online farming courses, let’s delve right into it so you can be equipped with the knowledge you need to put food on your table too.
Free Online Farming Courses
There are several free online farming courses you can find. I will be listing and talking about them in this section. It is worth noting that most of these courses have a certificate attached to them after the courses. They are as follows;
- Farm Management and Maintenance
- Diploma in Dairy, Food Process and Product Technology
- How to Manage a Poultry Farming Business
- Cropshare– Gardening Simplified
- Introduction to Soil Science and Technology
- Farm Weeds Identification and Control
- Introduction to Mushroom Farming
- Kitchen Gardening: The Complete Guide
- Basics of Hydroponic Horticulture
- Growing Organic Food Sustainably
- Diploma in Nanotechnology in Agriculture
- Sustainable Agricultural Land Management
- Challenges of Agribusiness Management
- Supply Chain of Agriculture
- Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050
- Agriculture, Economics and Nature
- Population, Food, and Soil
- Transformation of the Global Food System
- Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management
- Understanding Plants – Part II: Fundamentals of Plant Biology
1. Farm Management and Maintenance
From cultivating crops to managing livestock, farming is a multifaceted activity. The use of modern technologies has changed traditional agricultural and land usage practices. Any aspiring farmer or farm manager thus needs a firm grasp of modern farming practices to succeed. This agriculture class provides a holistic understanding of farming and sustainable farming practices to help you become a well-rounded and successful farm manager. It is the first on the list of free online farming courses. The course is comprised of 2 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Published By – Alpha Academy
Online Platform – Alison
2. Diploma in Dairy, Food Process and Product Technology
This free online course on dairy, food process, and product technology will be of great help to students who are interested in becoming food scientists and technologists. The course explains in great detail the basic principles and methods of food processing and preservation. There are food laws and regulations that have been put in place in countries around the world to ensure people are provided with healthy and hygienic food for consumption. This course is the next on the list of free online farming courses. The course is comprised of 13 modules and takes 10 to 15 hours to complete.
Published By – NPTEL
Online Platform – Alison
3. How to Manage a Poultry Farming Business
Are you looking to set up your own poultry farming business? This agriculture course explains how poultry farming works and provides all the information and skills you need to get your business up and running. They will take you through each step, from setting up the appropriate housing conditions for chickens to ensuring that the best possible eggs are produced. This course focuses on the UK but its principles can be applied anyway to farm birds. The course is comprised of 3 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Published By – Skill Up
Online Platform – Alison
4. Cropshare– Gardening Simplified
This gardening course explains how to start a sustainable vegetable, fruit, or herb garden that yields a harvest that can be shared via a Cropshare service. They will also explain how to bring your free vegetables to a Cropshare location to contribute your harvest to your community. This course provides a range of sustainable professional gardening skills you can use to produce crops at home, from chitting and mulching to irrigation and more. The course is comprised of 2 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Published By – Glass Mill Social Enterprise CIC
Online Platform – Alison
5. Introduction to Soil Science and Technology
Introduction to Soil Science and Technology is a free online course that offers an introductory guide to understanding, applying, and managing various soil processes in the world of soil science. Learn about the soil formation process of weathering, different soil classification systems, soil taxonomy, and various soil properties. Begin the course today and improve your knowledge of soil concepts and properties for improved soil productivity. The course is comprised of 4 modules and takes 5 to 6 hours to complete.
Published By – NPTEL
Online Platform – Alison
6. Farm Weeds Identification and Control
Farm weeds wreak havoc on farm productivity and profitability, making effective weed management an essential skill for any farmer or agricultural professional. This agriculture course on farm weeds prepares and equips you with the knowledge and techniques required to identify common weeds, understand their impact on ecosystems, and implement effective control methods. Sign up to learn how effective weed management practices improve crop yield. The course is comprised of 2 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete
Published By – Study Booth
Online Platform – Alison
7. Introduction to Mushroom Farming
Do you love eating mushrooms? Unfortunately, not all mushrooms are edible and they only grow when conditions are favorable. With this in mind, how can you tell if a mushroom is edible? What environmental parameters do you need to consider to maximize mushrooms’ growth and survival? They will explore how to grow mushrooms using several approaches, the benefits of mushroom cultivation, how to identify edible mushrooms, and more through this course. The course is comprised of 2 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete
Published By – Edukators London Ltd.
Online Platform – Alison
8. Kitchen Gardening: The Complete Guide
Do you dream of the perfect garden but don’t know where to start? This course is a complete guide to converting a portion of your land into a vibrant kitchen garden in which you can grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers of your choice. Explore how to identify the soil type in your garden so you can select the best crops suited to grow. Discover how to cultivate, harvest, and store plants while you manage pests in an eco-friendly manner. The course is comprised of 2 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Published By – Edukators London Ltd
Online Platform – Alison
9. Basics of Hydroponic Horticulture
This horticulture course delves into the gardening technique known as ‘hydroponics’, which replaces soil with nutrient-rich water. They will explore its history, evolution, and current state. We then cover many aspects of hydroponic farming, including the development of suitable systems, the role of greenhouses, and the management of pests and diseases. We also explain how to convert your farming knowledge into a successful hydroponic business venture. The course is comprised of 3 modules and takes 3 to 4 hours to complete
Published By – Learndrive Education
Online Platform – Alison
10. Growing Organic Food Sustainably
This free online course on organic food gardening demonstrates the steps and strategies for growing organic foods. You will learn about the various considerations you need to take into account when growing various types of organic vegetables. By the end of this free online course, you will be able to understand the best seasons for planting certain crops and how to sow and grow them accordingly. The course is comprised of 4 modules and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete
Published By – Grow It Yourself
Online Platform – Alison
11. Diploma in Nanotechnology in Agriculture
This free online course introduces you to contemporary nanoparticle-based farming practices and will provide an understanding of the various nanotechnology tools in use. As an up-and-coming interdisciplinary domain of research, the course is designed based on current literature. It provides a general overview of the ability of modern nanotechnology tools in furthering sustainable development. The course is comprised of 11 modules and takes 10 to 15 hours to complete
Published By – NPTEL
Online Platform – Alison
12. Sustainable Agricultural Land Management
This course will cover the agricultural and urban water quality issues in Florida, their bases, land and nutrient management strategies, and the science and policy behind the best management practices (BMPs). Students will learn to evaluate BMP research and analyze its role in determining practices and policies that protect water quality. This course is comprised of 8 modules and takes approximately 19 hours to complete.
Offered By – University of Florida
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – George J. Hochmuth, Ph.D.
13. Challenges of Agribusiness Management
The goal of this course is to understand the challenges and opportunities of agribusiness nowadays. From farms to retailers, from input providers to traders, all the diverse players of this value chain interact a complex business environment in which nature, policy, technology and management strategies have to be considered to overcome future challenges and seize upcoming opportunities. This course is comprised of 5 modules and takes approximately 5 hours to complete.
Offered By – Università Bocconi
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Vitaliano Fiorillo
14. Supply Chain of Agriculture
Learners will be introduced to the production and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products. Topics will cover the full range of the agriculture supply chain, from pre-farm to the consumer, to provide students with a better understanding and appreciation for where and how crops and livestock are produced, and the systems used to distribute products to consumers. As a result of completing this course, learners will be able to describe the global nature of food chains from input supply to final consumer and explain the important drivers of demand for food products throughout the world. This course is comprised of 6 modules and takes approximately 9 hours to complete.
Offered By – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Paul B. Stoddard, Joana Colussi, Ph.D., and Gary Schnitkey, Ph.D.
15. Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050
The Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050 Course is based on a clear vision: imagine best practice farming for 2050, and start to implement these strategies now, all the while making sure it will still be profitable.
Although this course is based on agriculture, it’s not only about farming. It is a multi-disciplinary course that addresses a wide range of issues confronting the industry, including rural communities, rural infrastructure, and the conservation of biodiversity in agriculture.
By completing this course you will understand that feeding and clothing the planet requires a multi-disciplinary approach and upon completion, you will be able to explain best practices of sustainable farming and apply them in new contexts. This course is comprised of 7 modules and takes approximately 9 hours to complete.
Offered By – University of Western Australia
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Graeme Martin
16. Agriculture, Economics and Nature
Sound economic thinking is crucial for farmers because they depend on good economic decision-making to survive. Governments depend on economic information to make good policy decisions on behalf of the community. This course will help you to contribute to better decision-making by farmers, or by agencies servicing agriculture, and it will help you to understand why farmers respond to policies and economic opportunities in the ways they do. This course is comprised of 7 modules and takes approximately 16 hours to complete.
Offered By – University of Western Australia
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Professor David Pannell, BSc(Agric), BEc, PhD
17. Population, Food, and Soil
This course explores the population-environment relationship. In this course, you will learn about the human population and how changes in the population affect the environment. Agriculture, soils, and the environmental implications of eating meat, vegetables, local, organic, sustainable, industrial, and other types of food are discussed too. This course is comprised of 4 modules and takes approximately 15 hours to complete.
Offered By – Dartmouth College
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Andy Friedland
18. Transformation of the Global Food System
This course focuses on how food systems can become more sustainable. It consists of four modules each focusing on an essential ingredient towards developing more sustainable food systems: (1) Boosting the small, (2) Transforming the big, (3) Losing less, and (4) Eating smarter. In each of these key areas, we will meet people from different countries around the world, who labor every day to find and spread solutions that work. This course is comprised of 6 modules and takes approximately 11 hours to complete.
Offered By – University of Copenhagen
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Katherine Richardson
19. Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management
In this course, we will explore the effect of infectious diseases on sustainable animal-based food production. The content and learning outcomes of this new course will be designed to be relevant across different food production sectors (i.e., beef, dairy, poultry, and pigs). While the instructors will provide the participants with a strong scientific base for understanding the impact of infectious disease in animal-based food production, the emphasis of the material will be on practical problem-solving and will be directed towards equipping participants with a platform for developing the skills needed to contribute to sustainable food production. This course is comprised of 7 modules and takes approximately 19 hours to complete.
Offered By – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Dr. Jim Lowe, DVM, MS, Dip ABVP (Food Animal) and Dr. Brian Aldridge, BVSc, MS, PhD, Dip ACVIM (Large Animal), MRCVS
20. Understanding Plants – Part II: Fundamentals of Plant Biology
This class is aimed at people interested in understanding the basic science of plant biology. In this four-lecture series, you will first learn about the structure of plants and plant cells. Then you will try to understand how plants grow and develop, making such complex structures as flowers. Once you know how plants grow and develop, you will then delve into understanding photosynthesis – how plants take carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil, and turn this into oxygen for us to breathe and sugars for us to eat. In the last lecture, you will learn about the fascinating, important, and controversial science behind genetic engineering in agriculture
Offered By – Tel Aviv University
Online Platform – Coursera
Instructor (s) – Professor Daniel Chamovitz, Ph.D.
Conclusion
All these courses are offered for free and you will obtain a certificate of completion at the end of the course. Feel free to enroll in any one of them and learn.
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