Agriculture Economics

This is an introductory course dealing with the economic importance of the agribusiness community and the potential for employment in the agricultural sector. Topics include marketing, production, risk, financial management, and human resource management in agribusiness firms. Particular attention is given to the application of economic principles to the management of marketing and farm supply firms.

Comparison of scientific and holistic though models as applied to personal organizational and biological problem solving and goal setting.

Economic and managerial concepts related to farm or agribusiness production process, development of cost data, enterprise analysis, organization, and management of production inputs.

Study of the agricultural marketing system to include cash marketing, commodity futures trading, branded products merchandising, and the interrelationship of the government and international trade.

Introduction to agricultural finance provides background in farm and agribusiness credit use and evaluation. Discussion of specific financial conditions on farms and in agribusiness. Topics include financial statement preparation and analysis, capital structure (debt and equity), investment analysis, time value of money, interest rates, and credit markets and suppliers.

The principles of salesmanship applied to the agricultural business. Topics include attitudes and value systems, basic behavioral patterns, relationship of sales to marketing, selling strategies, preparing for sales calls, making sales presentations, and closing sales.

Study of laws affecting agriculture and agribusiness including property ownership, financial relations, and environmental regulation

An internship is required of most AAS programs. This course is available to AA and AS students as well. The students combine course learning with practical, professional work experience in their chosen field of study. The employer does an evaluation of the work experience: The faculty advisor supervises the students; the students are required to complete a project assigned by the faculty advisor. A minimum of 40 hrs of work is required to earn one credit. A grade of S/U is given by the faculty.