AGEC 333 - Agricultural Marketing
Fall 2014
School of Agriculture - Western Illinois University
INSTRUCTOR Professor William C Bailey
Office Phone: 309/298-1522
Office Fax: 309/298-2280
Office: 322 Knoblauch
Office Hours: 1 PM – 3 PM
Monday, Noon – 1 PM Tuesday, 1-2
PM Wednesday
E-mail: WC-Bailey@WIU.EDU
CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS
AGEC 333 will meet on Tuesday and Thursday in KH308 from 8:00 – 9:15 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Principles of marketing agricultural products
Prerequisites: AGRI220 or equivalent
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop a basic understanding of marketing and the economic forces at work in agricultural
markets.
2. To recognize and describe different participants (producers, processors, institutions) inn
agricultural supply chains that connect producers to consumers.
3. To develop an understanding of how economic forces and participants jointly determine the
level of production, consumption and prices for agricultural commodities and food products.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Participation: Students are expected to regularly attend class and to actively participate in
discussions.
Academic Integrity: The rules and regulations outlined in the University's policy on academic
integrity are applied to this course.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Detailed information regarding student rights and
responsibilities can be found at http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/. It is your responsibility to
be familiar with the posted information.
Special Accommodations: If you need special accommodations, please feel free to stop by and
discuss your needs or contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512.
USE OF CELLULAR PHONES AND PAGERS
As a courtesy to other students and to the instructor, all cell phones and pagers should be turned
off prior to class. Continued disregard of this policy may result in ejection from the course. If,
due to medical or public safety concerns, a student needs an exception to this policy he/she
should inform the instructor prior to class. Cell phones are not to be used under any
circumstances on exams.
Texting is not allowed during class and repeated violations will lead to dismissal from the course
with an assigned grade of F.
September 1 October 10 November 24 - 28
December 18 -
-
IMPORTANT DATES
Labor Day – No class.
Fall Break
Thanksgiving break – No classes.
Final Exam – 10:00 – 11:50 a.m.
GRADING POLICY
The course grade will be based on the following factors, with weightings as indicated:
Exam I 30 %
Comprehensive Final Exam 40 %
Quizzes and homework 15%
Commodity Reports 15%
Total 100%
Grade breaking points may be lowered but in no case will they be raised. These breaking points
will be evaluated only after final numerical grades have been calculated.
Attention Education Majors: The changes within the state certification requirements, which go
into effect immediately for all of those students who graduate in the spring 2012 and after, you
are required to receive a grade of a "C" or better in this course in order to meet these new
requirements. With the new university +/- grading system, receiving a "C-" or below will require
you to retake this course or find a substitute course to meet School of Agriculture graduation
requirements.
QUIZZES
The instructor reserves the right to use both announced and unannounced quizzes. The lowest
quiz/homework score will be dropped. Only excused absences will be allowed to make up
quizzes. Unless there is an emergency, only excused absences approved in advance will be
excused. It is at the discretion of the instructor as to whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
HOMEWORK
Homework will focus on understanding key concepts with heavy reliance on graphing and
problem solving. Students are strongly encouraged to work on their own before checking their
answers with other students. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late assignments
will be docked 10% per day. Assignments will not be accepted after the problem set has been
discussed in class.
EXAMS
There will be 1 exam during the semester and one final exam. Exams will consist mostly of short
answers and problem solving. The final will be comprehensive. Makeup exams will be given
only in extreme situations.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1 August 25 – Agricultural Marketing: An Introduction
Week 2 September 1– The Competitive Environment
Week 3 September 8– Functions, Structures and Alternatives in Ag Marketing Systems
Week 4 September 15– Price Determination: Matching Quantities Supplied and Demanded
Week 5 September 22– The Domestic Market: A Developed Economy
Week 6 September 29– The International Market
Week 7 October 6– Pricing and Exchange Systems
Week 8 October 13– Exam 1
Week 9 October 20– Providing Optimum Varieties and Qualities
Week 10 October 27– Place and Time Aspects of Marketing
Week 11 November 3– Understanding and Applying Hedging Options
Week 12 November 10– Marketing by Farmer Groups: Collective Action
Week 13 November 17– Processor Procurement Systems; Chapter 14: Processor Marketing
Week 14 December 1– Wholesale, Retail and Food Service Marketing
Week 15 December 8 – Review
Final December 18 – 10AM
Please be advised that this syllabus is tentative. All classes are different and we may or may not
be able to address all of the content areas or stick with the anticipated number of exams. Any
deviations from the syllabus will be announced as soon as possible.
9/8/14 wb