Farm Management Certificate Program

Objective:  The objective of this course students will learn how to plan for expansions, upgrades, maintenance, and staff training.  Students will learn about developing contingency plans.  With a strong focus on the business and management side of farming small and large farms.  

Occupations:  farm assistant maintenance manager, maintenance supervisor, farm manager, farm assistant supervisor, farm operations manager, ranch manager, cultivation manager, equine farm supervisor

Prerequisite:  None

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Course Descriptions

Farm Management Certificate Program

• FMC300 Farm Management Business Practices 15 Hrs

This course addresses basic farm management skills, such as farm organization and operation techniques.  It also focuses on accounting and budgeting practices, which can help students create and maintain a successful financial business plan for their farms.

• FMC301 Strategic Planning 30 Hrs

In this course students learn about planning procedures from a strategic management approach.  Students will create management plans, study financial terminology, find finance; rural finance sources.  Study contract law and elements of simple contracts.

• FMC302 Business Plans 30 Hrs

Students will prepare a business plan and review integrated production plans.  Students will study and create farm plans, whole farm planning and quality management systems.

• FMC303 Business Assessment 30 Hrs

Students will determine business goals and consider factors involved in business assessment.  Students will study and consider factors affecting businesses and draw conclusions from scenarios.

• FMC304 Farm Records and Analysis 30Hrs

This course emphasizes the practical use of a farm record system in managing the farm through farm and financial analysis.  Includes the establishment of farm business goals, selection and use of farm credit, farm business arrangements, farm estate planning, and farm income taxes.  Instruction is provided on the use of computers and/or computer records and financial analysis of the farm business and finance strategy to meet their learner’s needs.

• FMC305 Emerging Trends in Agriculture 15 Hrs

In this course, students will learn about the technological advances in production agricultural, relevant policy changes in legislation, consumer trends and new niche ventures.  The production technology section will focus on data analysis and management from multiple sources including: robotic milkers, activity monitors, rumination meters, precision feeding, precision planting and harvesting data, satellite imagery and soil sampling.

• FMC306 Management Strategies 30 Hrs

This course gives student insights into the management skills of a successful agribusiness manager.  Skills students practice in this course include the process of creating various types of budgets, analyzing simple credit applications for potential customers of a business, making employment decisions, determining appropriate levels of inventory, and managing logistics to achieve operational goals.

• FMC307 Human Resources 30 Hrs

Students learn how to manage the human resources in an agribusiness.  Presentations about laws and candidate selection techniques will provide business owners the know how to obtain the best labor while navigating a litigious environment.  Methods for employee development along with approaches toward performance management and compensation will prepare students to on-board and develop new employees.  Maximizing employee contributions through proper motivation and leadership is covered.

• FMC308 Physical Resources 25 Hrs

This course concentrates on managing equipment, machinery and building, managing physical resources, engineering efficiency and animal structures.

• FMC309 Natural Resources 25 Hrs

Students will review and study regulations and legislation that would affect any farming operation.  Emphasis will be placed on land care programs, rehabilitation, erosion control, chemical residues, water management and quality and irrigation and watering systems.

• CAR500 Career Counseling 10 Hrs

The objective of this course is to assist students in making career choices.  This course focuses on self-assessment in terms of educational and career opportunities and reasonable possibilities in the world of work.  Includes assessment for personal/career interests, values, needs, attitudes, skills, and other potential, and exploration of occupational information to establish career and educational goals.  Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to make sound career choices.  There are no prerequisites for this course.