ABM - Agriculture Business Management

Examines the options available to set up a computerized record keeping system for an agricultural business. Focus is on the selection of a computer software package for the agricultural business. Computer terminology associated with a computerized record keeping system and importance of business planning will be discussed.

Identifies the proper setup and implementation of accounting software for an agricultural business. A chart of accounts and beginning balance sheet will be created for a computerized record keeping system. Data entry methods for the accounting software and identification of business plan components specific to student needs will also be discussed.

Examines cash and accrual accounting concepts and basic financial statements created for an agricultural business plan.

Determines the proper processes to maintain an accurate record keeping system for an agricultural business.

Examines how to create financial business reports from an accounting system for an agricultural business and utilize decision aid tools pertinent to the student's need.

Explains how to utilize a computerized accounting record keeping system to generate accurate financial records for an agricultural business.

Examines the purpose of enterprise analysis. Identification of accounting data used in enterprise analysis, enterprise features of an accounting system, and the need for additional enterprise software will be addressed.

Examines breakeven figures for business enterprises. This course will cover the calculation process for determining production figures for enterprises as well as refining an established accounting system to generate enterprise data accurately.

Develop cash flow and enterprise budgets. Student will learn cash flow concepts and the relationship to enterprise budgets. Use of data from an accounting system as well as other decision aid tools will be used in the cash flow and enterprise budget development.

Develop a cost and market value accrual balance sheet. This course focuses on the development of cost and marketing value balance sheets. Accrual features of an established accounting system will be analyzed in determining data that can be generated and utilized in the development of this financial statement.

Develop an accrual income statement. This course will focus on the development of an accrual income statement and examine this financial statement relevancy. Data from an established accounting system to use in the development will be identified.

Determine financial health of a business with the use of industry financial ratios. This course focuses on industry ratios used in determining the financial health of a business. Types of ratios as well as their calculations will be discussed. Comparisons of financial statements from an accounting system will be utilized.

Determine marketing strategies for agriculture commodities. Discussion will include identifying marketing information sources and defining marketing terminology. The students will also examine ways they can use current and forward marketing strategies in their operation. Course will also focus on enterprise identification and refinement of software enterprise features for production data.

Identify the function of basis in market price discovery, how to calculate margin account futures activity, and how to utilize option contracts in mitigating market risks. Investigation of software applications to further the calculations for production costs will be addressed.

Utilizes enterprise production data and its impact on cash flow to determine marketing strategies.

Analyzes price behavior using both technical and fundamental analysis. A marketing plan will be developed using calculated production costs and marketing strategies.

Covers evaluations and revisions of a marketing plan using actual production costs, local marketing alternatives, futures and option contracts, and technical analysis. Utilization of the plan will be determined.

Covers evaluation and refining of cost of production for all enterprises to select marketing strategies. Utilize these calculations in developing and implementing a production data base.

Covers the use of marketing research to analyze the initial steps in developing a marketing plan. The focus will be on product and service component of the market plan. Data trends for products and services from an accounting system will be utilized in the analysis process.

Covers development of a customer and competitive analysis for a market plan. Research on market potential and target areas will be included.

Develops a pricing strategy for a marketing plan. Development of a pricing strategy will include price/qualify relationships, sales methods, and ways to add value to products/services. Data from an inventory system as well as sales and expenses for products/services will be addressed.

Develops a promotional strategy for a marketing plan. Development will include examining the business image, use of technology and media. Promotional costs will be addressed.

Interprets data needed for all components in a marketing plan. Identification of data collected for sections of the marketing plan will be analyzed. The need for additional decision aid tools will be examined. A historical trend analysis for sales and expenses for use in the marketing plan will be developed.

Designs a marketing plan for the business. Overall marketing plan will be written with focus on how the plan differentiates from others. Cash flow ability will determine feasibility of the plan.

Assesses business' present use of the internet and the relationships to improved productivity.

Identifies common terminology and minimum technical requirements for internet use. Focuses on common technology terms to broaden knowledge of the internet and to add credibility to one's use of technology. Addresses identification of the business' equipment for internet use. Emphasizes understanding and utilizing the tools available and the technical capabilities of the present business.

Appraises the components for the initial development of a web use plan for the business.

Evaluates the effectiveness of the business' communication component of a web use plan. Emphasis on improved utilization of the internet for communication to customers, vendors, financial institutions and other professionals.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the search component of a web use plan. Emphasis will be placed on improved utilization of searching the internet for information pertinent to the business.

Evaluate the need for web presence as a component in the web use plan. Focus will be on the refinement of all web use components and implementation of the agribusiness web use plan relating to business operations.

Interprets in-depth financial analysis processed for the business. This will include advanced financial analysis terminology and financial statements.

Analyzes existing financial trends and emphasis of pro forma EDUactivities for further analysis of the business. Utilization of accurate accrual records and historical data will provide the basis of the pro forma statement development as it currently operates.

Identifies and examines alternative enterprise(s) for the business. This will include measuring the business performance past and present and assessing business goals.

Evaluates and assesses revisions to the business plan. This will include a process for periodic review with a focus on strengthening of management skills.

Identifies critical areas in the business and sources of business risk. Various methods of researching resource materials to keep business plan current will be addressed as well as identifying alternatives to minimize future risks.

Changes business plan to include a risk management component which addresses the critical issues identified.

Explains the general concepts of integrated management, importance, and relationship to business sustainability.

Examines technological techniques currently available and the importance of risk management in the integrated management plan.

Evaluates data and software currently used as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the business risk management plan as it relates to technology integration.

Analyze current use of technology and identify what change(s) should be addressed to have improved information and data for the agricultural business.

Creates a preliminary data and software management plan incorporating new or improved technology integration methods that have been identified.

Develops an implementation plan for integrated management that addresses software, data, risk reduction and financial impact.

Lists the major business organizational structures available to agribusiness operations and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each. Document the risk management and financial responsibilities of each. .

Develops an understanding of basis agricultural business taxes and their preparation. Special emphasis will be placed on alternative rules for depreciating farm property. The student will also document the income tax implications of alternative business organizational structure.

Compares the relationship between input levels and the corresponding output. Demonstrate how to calculate the production response from alternative levels of input allocation within an enterprise and among alternative enterprises.

Defines basic economic concepts that enhance the financial success of an agriculture operation.

Analyzes production costs and revenue from an economic standpoint. Identifies the production level that allows profits to be maximized. .

Examines the concepts that determines how market prices are established in a purely competitive agriculture environment.

Identifies components of a business plan for a new business venture. This course centers on the collection of data necessary for the development.

Develops a customer analysis component for a new venture business plan and analyzes the product/service component. Focuses on customer analysis component including targeting customers and customer profiles. Customer wants and needs will be listed and compared with the product/service component.

Identifies target markets and develops a competition analysis for a new business venture. Focuses identifying target markets and the potential as well as the development of the competition analysis component of the new venture business plan.

Identifies the enterprises for a new business venture and the financial statements needed for the development of the financial section.

Develops sale and expense forecasts for the creation of a new venture business plan.

Identifies startup costs and develop a cash flow for a new business venture. Focuses on the development of a cash flow and evaluation of financial statements. Financial statement evaluation will point to financing needs and identification of business venture risks.

Defines leadership and identify the process of leadership and what are effective leadership skills. Focuses on the concepts and skills associated with effective leadership.

Identifies concepts associated with functional teams and examine stress management concepts in a business environment. Focuses on concepts relating to leadership management, characteristics of functional teams and stress management.

Identifies human resource management tools that can help manage essential HR and people-oriented tasks.

Examines team building within the business and develops a leadership plan to optimize team performance.

Develops a stress management reduction plan. This course includes analyzing stressful situations, effective ways to deal with stress, and the development of a stress reduction plan and techniques.

Develops a handbook that addresses human resource practices for a business.