AGEC 333 - Agricultural Marketing Spring 2014 School of Agriculture - Western Illinois University INSTRUCTOR Professor William C Bailey Office Phone: 309/298-1522 Office: 318 Knoblauch Office Hours: Tuesday 9:30 – 11:00; Wednesday 1:00 – 2:00; Thursday 9:30 – 11:00 Office Fax: 309/298-2280 E-mail: WC-Bailey@WIU.EDU CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS AGEC 333 will meet on Tuesday and Thursday in KH152 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. AGEC333 Spring 2014 1 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. IMPORTANT DATES January 20 – Martin Luther King Holiday Feb 12 – Abraham Lincoln Birthday Mar 10 -14 – Spring Break May 6, 8:00 AM – Final Exam 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 30 % 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. AGEC333 Spring 2014 2 COURSE OUTLINE Jan 13 – Week 1 – Chapter 1 – Agricultural Marketing: An Introduction Jan 20 – Week 2 – Chapter 2: The Competitive Environment Jan 27 – Week 3 – Chapter 3: Functions, Structures and Alternatives in Ag Marketing Systems Feb 3 – Week 4 – Chapter 4: Price Determination: Matching Quantities Supplied and Demanded Feb 10 – Week 5 – Chapter 5: The Domestic Market: A Developed Economy Feb 17 – Week 6 – Chapter 6: The International Market Feb 24 – Week 7 – Chapter 7: Pricing and Exchange Systems Mar 3 – Week 8 – Exam I Mar 10 – Spring Break Mar 17 – Week 9 – Chapter 8: Providing Optimum Varieties and Qualities Mar 24 – Week 10 – Chapter 9: Place and Time Aspects of Marketing Mar 31 – Week 11 – Chapter 10: Understanding and Applying Hedging April 7 – Week 12 – Chapter 12: Marketing by Farmer Groups: Collective Action April 14 – Week 13 – Chapter 13: Processor Procurement Systems Chapter 14: Processor Marketing April 21 – Week 14 – Chapter 15: Wholesale, Retail and Food Service Marketing April 28 – Week 15 – Review May 5 – Finals Week – Final Exam 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. AGEC333 Spring 2014 3