Energy and Agriculture. A Basic Core Curriculum for Teaching Energy to Vocational Agriculture Students.

This core curriculum contains five units of material for teaching energy to vocational agriculture students. Energy uses and the benefits of energy conservation are covered in a unit on the impact of energy on agriculture. Discussed next are tractor performance and Nebraska tractor test data for selecting and evaluating tractors for maximum fuel efficiency. Proper ballasting of a tractor as well as operational procedures such as proper matching of tillage equipment to the tractor, gearing up and throttling down, and minimized idling are covered in a unit dealing with tractor operation for maximum fuel efficiency. Addressed next are the following topics: terms related to petrochemical energy use in agriculture, recognizing the amounts of energy these represent, various practices in the use of petrochemicals, and alternatives to their use in farming. Grain production, harvesting, handling, and storage practices that save energy are examined. Included in each unit are a terminal objective; specific objectives; suggested activities; instructional materials (objectives, information sheets, and transparency masters); a unit test; and test answers. (A related core curriculum for teaching metrics to vocational students is available separately--see note.) (MN)