12/27/2024 9:40:11 AM	AGBU 56 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AGBU 56	Title:  INTRO AG BUS MGMT
Full Title:  Introduction to Agriculture Business and Management
Last Reviewed:12/12/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AGBUS 56

Catalog Description:

In this course students will explore the structure and organization of agricultural businesses. Students will identify and discuss the requirements for establishing agricultural businesses, funding sources, principles of financial management and decision-making. Students will also examine the economic aspects of agriculture, food systems and the implications for consumers and communities.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

In this course, students will explore the structure and organization of agricultural businesses. Students will identify and discuss the requirements for establishing agricultural businesses, funding sources, principles of financial management and decision-making. Students will also examine the economic aspects of agriculture, food systems and the implications for consumers and communities.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Spring 1999	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AG - AB 104	Introduction to Agriculture Business	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AGBU56

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Explain how economic principles and effective financial analysis relate to agribusiness management.

2. Identify and discuss the structure and types of organizations in agribusiness.

3. Identify and apply the functions of management in agribusiness organizations.

4. Describe basic agriculture laws, regulations, and the role of regulatory agencies.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Explain how economic principles relate to agribusiness management.

2. Discuss the processes and resources for establishing an agribusiness.

3. Describe the sectors in the agribusiness in the agribusiness food system.

4. Discuss the components of a business plan.

5. Identify and describe the types of agriculture business organizations.

6. Explain the four functions of management in agribusiness.

7. Explain a basic financial statement.

8. Develop a Pro Forma for a new business.

9. Perform basic financial statement analysis.

10. Recognize, evaluate, and propose solutions to problems in personnel, ethics, and communication.

11. Analyze the components of a successful human resources management plan.

12. Explain trends in agribusiness in Sonoma County and the United States.

Topics and Scope

I. Introduction to Agribusiness

    A. Overview of the agribusiness industry

    B. Agribusiness in California, United States, and the global economy

    C. Organization of agribusiness

    D. Trends in agribusiness

II. Structure and Organization of Agribusiness

    A. Structure of agribusiness organizations

    B. Types of agribusiness organizations

         1. Sole proprietorship

         2. Partnership

         3. Corporation

    C. Managing agribusiness organizations

III. Management

    A. Planning

    B. Leading

    C. Organizing

    D. Controlling

IV. Managerial Problem Solving in Agriculture

    A. Financial analysis and problem solving

    B. Diagnosis of the situation

    C. Generating alternatives

    D. Evaluating alternatives

    E. Selecting the best alternatives

    F. Implementing alternatives

    G. Evaluating results

V. Financial Management and Control in Agribusiness

    A. General business economics

    B. Budgeting and financial planning

    C. Overview of financial statements

    D. Financial statement analysis

    E. Uses of financial analysis

VI. Human Resource Management

    A. The role of the agriculture manager

    B. Human resource planning

    C. Training and managing employees

    D. Employee appraisal and motivation

    E. Teams and teambuilding

    F. Labor relations

    G. Challenges in human resource management in agriculture

VII. Business Law and Ethics in Agriculture

    A. Agriculture values

    B. Agriculture business ethics

    C. Personal values

    D. Agriculture law and the regulatory environment

    E. Regulatory agencies and standards

VIII. Agribusiness Plans

    A. Marketing plan components

    B. Sales plan components

    C. Business plan components

    D. Role of marketing, sales, and business plans in agribusiness

IX. Contemporary Issues in Food Agriculture Business

    A. Specialization and integration

    B. Marketing bill, food bill and farm income

    C. Consumer demand and agribusiness

    D. Food pricing and consumer demand

    E. Production costs and decision-making

X. Forecasting in Agribusiness

    A. Basics of forecasting

    B. Forecasting procedures

    C. Using forecasts in agribusiness

XI. Establishing an Agribusiness

    A. Factors of production

    B. Mission and vision

    C. Business registration

    D. Funding sources for agriculture businesses

    E. Business Pro Forma

Assignments:

1. Weekly reading (25 -30 pages)

2. One research paper on (3-5 pages) on topics such as:

     A. Sonoma County agribusiness

    B. Farming systems and agribusiness in California

    C. California water

    D. Agricultural trade

    E. Ethics and labor issues in agribusiness

3. Financial analysis problem sets (2)

4. Business Pro Forma (1)

5. Weekly agribusiness case studies

6. Personal Portfolio

7. Virtual Funding Resource binder

8. Midterms (2) and Final Exam

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Research paper, Weekly case studies
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 15 - 30%
Financial Analysis problem sets, Business Pro Forma
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 20%
Virtual Funding Resource binder, Personal Portfolio
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 40%
Midterms (2) and Final Exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Agribusiness Management. 6th ed. Barnard, Freddie L., Foltz, John; Yeager, Elizabeth, L; Brewer, Brady. Routledge. 2020

Principles of Agribusiness Management. 5th ed. Beierlein, James and Schneeberger, Kenneth and Osborn, Donald. Waveland Press. 2013 (Classic)

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