Los Angeles school using agriculture to help students

Oct 12, 2016

At-risk students can use a farm to make up credits

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

A school in Los Angeles is helping students at risk of not graduating earn the required credits by using agriculture.

John R. Wooden High School has a farm that students can use as their classroom. Students can take classes including environmental studies, soil science and animal behavior, to develop plans for a drought-resistant garden.

The students can then use their credits to apply to universities including Cal State University and the University of California.

Farm offers refuge for students and animals

“It’s good for me,” 17-year-old Alex Snyder, who used to run away for days and now tends to goats and pigs, told the Los Angeles Times. “If this is my first period, it kind of makes me want to come to school every day.”

The unique classroom atmosphere provides students and teachers with a special learning environment.

According to the L.A. Times, science teacher Stephanie Darling gives students tasks at the farm and quizzes them as they’re completing the work.

As student Bryant Santoyo shoveled mulch into the garden, Darling asked him why he was applying the mulch. Santoyo replied that it acts as fertilizer and keep the ground cool.

On October 22, the school will host Food Day LA and invite the public to the farm to learn about agriculture and how individuals can cultivate some crops in their backyards.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.