AG 31 – Page 1
Date Approved:
06/09/89
Scanned:
4.18.05
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
College of the Redwoods
CREDIT COURSE OUTLINE
DEPARTMENT AND COURSE NUMBER: AG 31
DEGREE APPLICABLE
NON-DEGREE APPLICABLE
FORMER NUMBER (If previously offered):_________________
COURSE TITLE: __FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
LECTURE HOURS: 2.5
LAB HOURS: 1.5
PREREQUISITE: NONE; SEE NOTE
UNITS:3.0
Eligibility for: Engl 150
Math 105
Request for Exception Attached
CO-REQUISITE: NONE
GRADING STANDARD:
Letter Grade Only
TRANSFERABILITY:
CSUS
UC
Articulation with UC requested
Repeatable: Yes
CR/NC Only
None
No
Grade/CR/NC Option
Maximum Class Size 26_
Max No. Units
Max No. Enrollments
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
This course will cover the decision-making process, tools of decision-making and acquisitions and organization of the
factors of production. Also covered will be managing the organized farm, and the influence of change on farm organization
and management. Students will learn the uses of credit, equipment, and labor in an efficient way.
NOTE:
AG 36 MAY BE TAKEN CONCURRENTLY.
COURSE OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES: List the primary instructional objectives of the class. Formulate some of them in
terms of specific measurable student accomplishments, e.g., specific knowledge and/or skills to be attained as a result, of
completing this course. For degree-applicable courses, include objectives in the area of “critical thinking.”
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Organize the procedures for decision-making.
2. Be able to develop a thorough farm budget.
3. Be able to understand the use and costs of credit.
4. Be able to evaluate the use of various levels of inputs of land, labor, equipment and other factors of production.
5. Be able to understand the business process of production through marketing.
AG 31 – Page 2
Date Approved:
06/09/89
Scanned:
4.18.05
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Decision-making process
2. Economic principles and farm management
3. Farm records and analysis
4. Income and net worth statements
5. Farm budget development
6. Risk and uncertainty
7. Acquiring capital and land
8. Size of farm and enterprises
9. Crop and livestock management
10. Machinery and labor management
11. Use of credit
12. Income tax management
13. Use of computers in farm management
14. Tests and test review
% of Classroom Hours Spent on Each Topic
4%
8%
8%
8%
21%
5%
5%
6%
6%
6%
6%
4%
6%
7%
100%
APPROPRIATE TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
(Indicate textbooks that may be required or recommended, including alternate texts that may be used.)
Text(s)
Title: Farm Business Management
Required
Edition: 3rd
Alternate
Author: Castle/Becker/Nelson
Recommended
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Date Published: 1987
(Additional required, alternate, or recommended texts should be listed on a separate sheet and attached.)
For degree applicable courses the adopted texts have been certified to be college-level:
Yes. Basis for determination:
is used by two or more four-year colleges or universities (certified by the Division Chair or Branch Coordinator,
or Center Dean)
OR
has been certified by the LAC as being of college level using the Coleman and Dale-Chall Readability Index
Scale.
No. Request for Exception Attached
If no text or a below college level text is used in a degree applicable course, a Request for Exception form must be
completed and a rationale provided. This request for exception will be approved or denied by the Curriculum Committee.
AG 31 – Page 3
Date Approved:
06/09/89
Scanned:
4.18.05
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
METHODS TO MEASURE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
Please check where appropriate; however, a degree applicable course must have a minimum of one response in category
1, 2, or 3. If category 1 is not checked, the department must explain why substantial writing assignments are an
inappropriate basis for at least part of the grade.
1. Substantial writing assignments, including:
essay exam(s)
term or other paper(s)
written homework
reading report(s)
laboratory report(s)
other (specify) _____
If the course is degree applicable, substantial writing assignments in this course are inappropriate because:
The course is primarily computational in nature.
The course primarily involves skill demonstrations or problem solving.
Other rationale (explain) __________________________________________
2. Computational or Non-computational problem-solving demonstrations, including:
exam(s)
quizzes
homework problems
laboratory report(s)
field work
other (specify)_______
3. Skill demonstrations, including:
class performance(s)
other (specify)____
4. Objective examinations, including:
multiple choice
completion
field work
performance exam(s)
true/false
other (specify)
matching items
5. Other (specify) ____________________________________
NOTE: A course grade may not be based solely on attendance.
REQUIRED READING, WRITING, AND OTHER OUTSIDE OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Over an 18-week presentation of the course, 3 hours per week are required for each unit of credit. ALL Degree Applicable
Credit classes must treat subject matter with a scope and intensity which require the student to study outside of class.
Two hours of independent work done out of class are required for each hour of lecture. Lab and activity classes must also
require some outside of class work. Outside of the regular class time the students in this class will be doing the following:
Study
Answer questions
Skill practice
Required reading
Problem solving activity or exercise
Written work (essays/compositions/report/analysis/research)
Journal (reaction and evaluation of class, done on a continuing basis throughout the semester)
Observation of or participation in an activity related to course content (e.g., play, museum, concert, debate,
meeting, etc.)
Field trips
Other (specify) ____________________________
AG 31 – Page 4
Date Approved:
06/09/89
Scanned:
4.18.05
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
COLLEGE LEVEL CRITICAL THINKING TASKS/ASSIGNMENTS:
Degree applicable courses must include critical thinking tasks/assignments. This section need not be completed for nondegree applicable courses. Describe how the course requires students to independently analyze synthesize, explain,
assess, anticipate and/or define problems, formulate and assess solutions, apply principles to new situations, etc.
The student will be able to identify the principles of management and apply them to a farm business situation. The
student will be able to evaluate the financial strengths and weaknesses of a farm business. The student will be able to
develop a business plan and operating budget for an agricultural business using the principles developed in the course.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
1. Attendance and participation
2. Development of the term project
3. Tests
4. Final Exam
GRADE SCALE:
92-l00 = A, 82-91 = B, 72-8l = C, 62-7l = D, 0-61
% OF GRADE
10 %
25 %
40 %
25 %