Evaluation of the market-based incentives, institutional arrangements, and public policies for conserving natural and protected areas. Introductory course in agricultural economics and natural resources, or consent of instructor. Application of the concepts and methods of finance to the management of agribusiness firms, including cooperative. Special attention is given to the working capital needs of agribusiness and to the specialized lending institutions in the agricultural economy. Theory and applied decision making in marketing grain and livestock with emphasis on both cash and futures markets.
Topics relate to management of technical innovation and technology transfer.
The emphasis is on agricultural biotechnology. Economic analysis and planning of the farm business and its organization. Applications of computerized management techniques to farm business including resource acquisition, tax management, enterprise analysis, and business analysis through farm records and budgets. Alternative risk management tools are presented as presently employed by agribusiness managers. The course concludes with an intensive review and analysis of agricultural cooperatives as a risk management tool.