Management Education programs are designed to provide individuals with improved skills in financial management, production, marketing, and employee relations. Instruction is tailored to the specific needs of the farm or business. To enroll in one of these programs, the person must be actively involved in the operation, ownership and/or management of a farm or business, or secure prior approval of the instructor.

Management Education Online Courses

Farm Business Management - Diploma
The purpose of the Farm Business Management program is to help farmers achieve their farm business and family goals through improved management, organization and operational efficiency of their farms. Farm record analysis is a vital part of the program requiring accurate financial records of all business transactions. Farmers can compare their analysis with the area average and with their own previous analysis to determine progress. Using applied farm management principles, students discover the strengths and weaknesses of their farms. Through skills gained in this program, the weaknesses can be minimized and strengths expanded, allowing the family farm to make progress towards its established business and family goals.

Advanced Farm Business Management - Certificate
The Advanced Management Certificate is designed to provide education in the areas of Risk Management, Strategic Planning, and Business Plan Development. This program is primarily for students who have completed the Farm Business Management program but are currently involved in expanding, reorganizing, diversifying, and/or specializing their business. A sound record base is necessary for success in this program. The primary goal of this program is to develop management skills, which enable the student to complete a Strategic Plan and a Business Plan, and develop skills which enable students to interpret/manage risk in the business.

Agricultural Commodities Marketing - Certificate
The Marketing Certificate will provide the education necessary to develop the understanding, knowledge, and skills to market farm commodities. Specific skills include learning the individual marketing options available to producers to market their commodities. Students will also learn how to calculate an accurate cost of production for use in an individualized marketing plan. This certificate includes specific classroom instruction in addition to group seminar discussions and individualized instruction.

Advanced Agricultural Commodity Marketing - Certificate
The Advanced Agricultural Commodity Marketing Certificate provides the education necessary to develop the understanding, knowledge, and skills to market farm commodities. Specific skills include learning the individual marketing options available to producers to market their commodities. Students will also learn to calculate an accurate cost of production for use in an individualized marketing plan. This certificate is designed to have specific classroom instruction in addition to group seminar discussions and individualized instruction.

Current Issues in Farm Business Management - Certificate
The program is designed to provide education to established farm businesses. Agriculture is changing very rapidly with technology and ever tightening profit margins. This certificate program is designed for the students that have completed the Farm Business Management Diploma program, but are currently involved in expanding, reorganizing, diversifying, and/or specializing their business. A sound record keeping system is necessary for success in this program. This certificate program will allow a student to access directed study topics which meet their educational needs and allows them to continue to build their management skills through the Farm Business Management Program. Therefore, the primary goal for this certificate program is to develop management skills which will enable the student to be competitive with their peers, and develop skills which will enable them to interpret/manage risk in the business.

Precision Agriculture - Certificate
The Precision Agriculture Certificate provides the education necessary to develop the understanding, knowledge, and skills to incorporate Precision Agriculture technology into their business operation. It introduces students to the concept of precision farming, provides background information, and prepares students to implement precision farming practices in their farming operation or agri-business operation. The potential impact of precision farming on crop production and farming operations are already being influenced by the rapidly emerging technologies that make precision farming possible. Course offerings in Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, Variable-Rate Technologies, Yield Monitoring Concepts, Remote Sensing, Crop Scouting, and Guidance Systems will be made available. This certificate is designed to have specific classroom instruction in addition to group seminar discussions and individualized instruction.

Small Business Management - Diploma
The Small Business Management Program is designed to bring the benefits of instruction in business management to small business operators and their families. Using applied business management principles, business operators discover the strengths and weaknesses of their businesses. Through utilization of the skills learned through participation in the SBM program, the business operator will be able to maximize profits and enhance the attainment of the family and business goals and objectives. Individualized at-the-business instruction is one of the key elements of the SBM program. Instruction includes group meetings at the College and regularly scheduled individual at-the-business instructional visits. It is the individualized instruction on a regular basis that makes the program extremely successful.

Specialty Crops Management - Diploma
This program provides training and the management skills needed to achieve success in the commercial production and sale of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and other specialty crops. The program provides training in the planning phase of the business on through the establishment and management of a successful business operation. Courses include: market evaluation, crop selection, market development, and production techniques required for successful crops. Identification of an appropriate marketing strategy, establishment of a sound business plan for the business and managing process of marketing the crop are all included in a comprehensive program.