INTRODUCTION TO AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Nick Thompson
Grades 10-12
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will begin the class with an introduction to
Agribusiness including career opportunities and business operations. Students will also
learn marketing, sales, and advertising as it applies to Agribusiness. The last part of the
class allows students to explore Ag Economics, with an introduction to accounting, taxes,
and credit
MINUTES OF
INSTRUCTION
UNITS OF INSTRUCTION
Introduction to Agribusiness
Business Operations Management
Agricultural Marketing, Sales & Advertising
Economics
Accounting
Finance and Credit
Taxes and Taxation
Human Resources
SAE Related Activities
FFA & Leadership Related Activities
TOTAL MINUTES
700
450
1400
850
1650
750
500
300
350
250
7200
Introduction to Agribusiness Management Course of Study
Course: Introduction to Agribusiness Management
Grade Level: 10-12
Length: 1 year
Course Description:
Students will begin the class with an introduction to Agribusiness including career
opportunities and business operations. Students will also learn marketing, sales, and
advertising as it applies to Agribusiness. The last part of the class allows students to
explore Ag Economics, with an introduction to accounting, taxes, and credit.
Units and Objectives:
1. Introduction to Agribusiness (700 min)
a. Career Opportunities
i. 4011A
Describe career opportunities in agribusiness
ii. 4011B
Discuss agribusiness career preparation
b. The Nature of Agribusiness
i. 4012A
Define agribusiness
ii. 4012B
Name the sectors of agribusiness
c. Entrepreneurship
i. 4013A
Define and describe entrepreneurship
ii. 4013B
Identify the personal characteristics of
entrepreneurs
d. Types of Businesses
i. 4014A
Identify and describe the three types of
businesses (sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation)
ii. 4014B
List the advantages and disadvantages of the
three business types
iii. 4014C
Describe what a cooperative is
iv. 4014D
Compare and contrast cooperatives to other
business forms
e. Starting or Buying an Agribusiness
i. 4015A
List the advantages and disadvantages of
starting an agribusiness from scratch
ii. 4015B
Identify all considerations in starting an
agribusiness
iii. 4015C
List the advantages and disadvantages of buying
an agribusiness
iv. 4015D
Identify all considerations in buying an
agribusiness
f. Competition
i. 4016A
Describe what competition is
ii. 4016B
Identify the forms of competition
iii. 4016C
Describe what a niche market is
g. Mission and Vision Statements
i. 4017A
Define what a mission statement is and what is
included in one
ii. 4017B
Describe the characteristics that mission
statements have
iii. 4017C
Define what a vision statement is and what is
included in one
2. Business Operations Management (450 min)
a. Business Plan
i. 4251A
Explain what a business plan is and the
importance of one
ii. 4251B
Identify the parts of a business plan
iii. 4251C
Describe how to develop a business plan
b. Agribusiness Management Concepts
i. 4252A
Define management
ii. 4252B
Discuss the atmosphere of agribusiness
management
c. Understanding Management and its Functions
i. 4253A
Describe what management is and its
importance
ii. 4253B
Identify and describe managerial skills
iii. 4253C
Identify and explain the roles of management
iv. 4253D
List and explain the levels of management
v. 4253E
Identify and describe the functions of
management
d. Management Types
e. Decision Making
i. 4255A
Explain the importance of making decisions in a
business setting
ii. 4255B
Describe how to make decisions
iii. 4255C
Compare and contrast decision making by
individuals or by groups
3. Agricultural Sales, Marketing, and Advertising (1400 min)
a. Introduction to Marketing
i. 4351A
Define what a market is and what marketing is
ii. 4351B
Explain marketing functions
iii. 4351C
Describe marketing institutions
iv. 4351D
Explain integration and the types
b. Types of Marketing
i. 4352A
Describe the two main types of marketing
(consumer and business)
ii. 4352B
Explain how consumers make decisions
iii. 4352C
Describe how new products are introduced and
adopted
iv. 4352D
Explain how business buyers make decisions
v. 4352E
Discuss institutional and government markets
c. Commodity Marketing
i. 4353A
Name and describe the groups of agricultural
commodities
ii. 4353B
Know what marketing channels are
iii. 4353C
Discuss the role of the government in
commodity marketing
d. Selling
i. 4354A
Describe how selling is a part of marketing
ii. 4354B
Describe the sales process
e. Market Research
i. 4355A
Evaluate methods of marketing products or
services
ii. 4355B
Research products and services design(s)
iii. 4355C
Identify market niches
f. Marketing Plan
i. 4356A
List and explain the components to a marketing
plan
ii. 4356B
Explain the benefits of a marketing plan
iii. 4356C
Explain the benefits of value-added products
g. Advertising
i. 4357A
Describe what advertising is
ii. 4357B
Explain the importance of advertising
iii. 4357C
List and describe advertising avenues
iv. 4357D
Identify advertising challenges
h. Pricing
i. 4358A
Define what price is
ii. 4358B
Describe how supply and demand determines
price of a product
4. Economics (850 min)
a. Basic Economics
i. 4066A
Define basic economics terms
ii. 4066B
Describe how basic economic factors affect
management decisions
b. Supply & Demand
i. 4069A
Define supply and demand
ii. 4069B
Explain how supply and demand determine
price
iii. 4069C
Explain how supply and demand determine how
much of a product is produced
iv. 4069D
Know the components to a supply and demand
graph
v. 4069E
Interpret a supply and demand graph
c. Utility and Satisfaction
i. 4068A
Define utility and satisfaction
ii. 4068B
Describe the different types of utility (time,
place, and form)
iii. 4068C
Explain how utility relates to agribusiness
management
d. Inputs and Outputs
i. 4067A
Define inputs and outputs
ii. 4067B
Describe the importance of inputs
iii. 4067C
Explain the input-output relationship
e. Opportunity Costs
i. Explain the concept of opportunity costs
5. Accounting (1650 min)
a. Methods of Accounting
i. 4051A
Define basic accounting terms
ii. 4051B
Describe what an accountant does
iii. 4051C
Compare and contrast the two methods of
accounting (the cash method and the accrual method)
iv. 4051D
Describe the two bookkeeping systems (the
single entry system and the double entry system)
b. Checking Accounts
i. 4052A
Describe what a checking account is
ii. 4052B
List advantages and disadvantages of checking
accounts
iii. 4052C
Accurately write a check and record transaction
in checkbook ledger
c. Savings
i. 4053A
Describe what a savings account is
ii. 4053B
List and explain the types of savings accounts
iii. 4053C
List advantages and disadvantages of savings
accounts
d. Budgets
i. 4056A
Explain the purposes of a budget
ii. 4056B
Compare and contrast the two types of
commonly prepared budgets (income statement budget and
cash flow budget)
iii. 4056C
List and explain the three formats of a income
statement budget(enterprise, partial, and whole farm)
iv. 4056D
List the components to a cash flow budget
e. Costs
i. 4057A
Define fixed costs and variable costs
ii. 4057B
Compare and contrast fixed costs and variable
costs
f. Assets and Liabilities
i. 4058A
Define assets and liabilities
ii. 4058B
Describe current and non-current assets
iii. 4058C
Describe current and non-current assets
iv. 4058D
Distinguish between assets and liabilities
g. Analyzing Financial Performance
i. 4059A
Use financial measures as a management tool
ii. 4059B
Define profitability, solvency, and liquidity
iii. 4059C
Know ways to calculate profitability, solvency,
and liquidity
h. Cash Flow Statements
i. 4061A
Explain what a cash flow statement is and uses
of one
ii. 4061B
Explain the benefits of cash flow planning
iii. 4061C
Identify the components of the cash flow
statement
iv. 4061D
Determine cash flow from income and expense
records
i. Balance Sheets
i. 4062A
Explain what a balance sheet is
ii. 4062B
Identify the components and structure of the
balance sheet
iii. 4062C
Complete a balance sheet from financial
information
j. Profit/Loss Statement
i. 4063A
Explain what a profit and loss statement is
ii. 4063B
Identify the components of a profit and loss
statement
iii. 4063C
Explain how to use a profit and loss statement as
a management tool
k. Owner/Equity Statement
i. 4064A
Explain what an owner equity statement is
ii. 4064B
Identify the components and structure of the
owner equity statement
iii. 4064C
Prepare an owner equity statement from
financial information
l. Inventory
i. 4070A
Define inventory and warehousing
ii. 4070B
Identify costs associated with warehousing
iii. 4070C
Describe how warehousing affects quality
iv. 4070D
Explain physical and perpetual inventories
v. 4070E
Identify costs associated with maintaining an
inventory
vi. 4070F
Explain the importance of record keeping in
warehousing and inventory
6. Finance & Credit (750 min)
a. Value of Money Over Time
i. 4054A
Define interest
ii. 4054B
Explain the concept of time value of money and
describe how money can grow over time
iii. 4054C
Describe compounding and demonstrate how to
calculate the future value of money
iv. 4054D
Describe discounting and demonstrate how to
calculate the present value of money
b. Interest
i. Discuss differences between interest rates and interest
ii. Interpret interest rates for different types of loans
iii. Calculate interest on loans
c. Sources of Credit
i. Determine needs for credit
ii. Examine different places to obtain credit
d. Types of Loans
i. Know the difference between a secured loan, an unsecured
loan, an equity loan, and a mortgage.
e. Applying for a Loan
i. Examine the needs for a loan
ii. Determine what a feasible need for a loan is
iii. Calculate a loan payment into a budget
iv. Know how to fill out a loan application
7. Taxes and Taxation (500 min)
a. Taxes
i. Examine the needs for taxation
ii. Determine the difference between a state and federal tax
iii. Describe the differences between sales, property, income, and
specialty taxes
b. Depreciation
i. 4065A
Define depreciation
ii. 4065B
Explain the purpose of depreciation
iii. 4065C
Calculate depreciation by straight-line,
accelerated cost recovery system, and modified accelerated
cost recovery system
8. Human Resources (300 min)
a. Employee Recruitment
i. 4301A
Explain how to develop a job description
ii. 4301B
Identify ways of recruiting employees
iii. 4301C
Identify locations to place job advertisement
b. Employee Interviewing and Hiring
i. 4302A
Describe ways of evaluating prospective
employees
ii. 4302B
Know what equal employment opportunity is
and laws prohibiting discrimination
c. Employee Relations
i. 4303A
Describe methods to improve employee
relations
ii. 4303B
List causes of poor employee morale
9. Related FFA Activities (350 min)
a. Broiler Contest
b. Ag Skills Contest
c. Outstanding Junior
d. State FFA Degree
10. Related SAE Activities (250 min)
a. Working on books on family farm
b. Working for Agribusiness
c. Broiler Contest (Profit and loss)
d. Record keeping on 4-H Project