Agribusiness (AGB)

Orientation to the agribusiness sector of agriculture. An overview of the breadth, size, scope and management aspects of the agricultural business complex. Agribusiness students are required to complete this within the first year of the major. 4 lectures.

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Credit can only be used to satisfy free electives. Credit/No Credit grading only.

Development of professional business-to-business selling principles within the supply chain, including an introduction to understanding the sales process from different buying and selling perspectives, communication techniques, and basic sales competency. 4 lectures.

Theoretical development of factors affecting demand and supply for food and fiber and for agricultural inputs. Methods of selecting optimal levels of agricultural production and consumption variables. Evaluation of market structure and price formulation for agricultural products and resources. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 4 lectures.

Principles of financial accounting for the agriculture and food industry. Introduction of basic concepts and standards underlying financial accounting systems. Emphasizes the construction of the financial accounting statements and the impact of business transactions on information presented to interested stakeholders. Not open to students with credit in BUS 214. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Using data and analysis in making decisions related to agribusiness. Developing basic and intermediate spreadsheet skills necessary to organize, analyze, and summarize information. Development of data management and analysis as tools to assist in agribusiness problem-solving. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Directed group study of selected topics. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures.

Food and fiber marketing, examining commodity, industrial, and consumer product marketing from a managerial viewpoint. A global perspective in understanding consumer needs and developing the knowledge of economic, political, social and environmental factors that affect food and fiber marketing systems. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Innovation and entrepreneurship with application to the Food and Agriculture sector. Identification of opportunities, value proposition, Business Model Canvas (BMC), product market fit and market sizing, minimum viable product, and identification of target market consumers. Field trip may be required. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Concepts and analytical methods related to agricultural finance. Focus on applied spreadsheet analysis of financial statements, time value of money, risk and return, portfolio theory, and capital budgeting within the context of financial institutions specific to agriculture. Not open to students with credit in AGB 310. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Expansion of basic sales principles and skills, focusing on prospecting, sales styles, pipelining, forecasting, and product planning. 4 lectures.

Financing California's agricultural industry. Sources of credit and types of loans used by agribusinesses. Costs of credit. Financial analysis of agricultural borrowers. Future and present value techniques used in evaluating agricultural investments. Agricultural financial management. Financial capital markets and leasing. Not open to Agricultural Business majors. Not open to students with credit in AGB 308. 4 lectures.

Financial tools applied to the agribusiness industry, focusing on unique risks in agriculture. Risk and return in the production and processing sectors, working capital management, cash flows and financial statement forecasting for agribusiness firms, using spreadsheet analysis. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Agricultural policy objectives and formulation, resource allocation and production adjustments. Survey of State and Federal agricultural policies as they influence the planning and practices of agribusiness. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Advanced agricultural microeconomics with emphasis on mathematical problem solving; production and cost functions, single and multiple input allocation, agricultural output combinations, agricultural market structures, and economies of size. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Analysis of international marketing opportunities for agricultural products. Strategies for enhancing the performance of U.S. agricultural exports/ imports. Impact of government trade policies and regulations, distribution systems, and the changing consumer. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

Organization and operation of agribusinesses. Identification of factors affecting profitability. Evaluation of the business for increased efficiency and profit. Application of budgeting to representative firms and independent analysis of an agribusiness. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Decision making using agribusiness accounting information. Focus on setting and monitoring objectives, analysis, forecasting and budgeting, business ethics, and decision making. Topics covered within the food supply chain. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Methods of rural appraisal, including farms, ranches and other rural properties, use of county records, appraisal practice on different types of rural properties, discussions with professional appraisers. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Methods in agricultural business data analysis, including multiple regression analysis, analysis of variance, and time series analysis. Applications include agricultural price forecasting and estimation of the determinants of food and fiber demand. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Development of agribusiness modeling techniques that are applied to solving a diverse and unique set of resource allocation issues encountered throughout the agricultural and food retail sectors. Techniques include linear programming, decision analysis, and computer simulations. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

Structure and performance of the agricultural lending industry. Advanced agricultural loan analysis and risk assessment. Agricultural loan documentation, securitization of farm loans, and farm bankruptcy. Exploration of interest rate impacts on agricultural lending. 4 lectures. Formerly AGB 410.

Selected students will spend up to 12 weeks with an approved agricultural firm engaged in production or related agribusiness. Time will be spent applying and developing agribusiness functional and managerial skills and abilities. One unit of credit may be allowed for each full week of completed and reported internship. Degree credit limited to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only.

Standard topics of California agricultural personnel management: recruitment; appraisal and performance evaluation; compensation; training and development; discipline; safety and health; labor relations; and immigration policy. Systemic approach to aspects of managing human capital, and how to implement human resource policies. Not open to students with credit in AGB 401. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.

International agricultural production, economics, and distribution. Comparative and competitive advantage in world agriculture. Food security issues and regional analysis of agriculture policies. The future of agriculture from a global perspective. 4 lectures.

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter.

Uses and techniques in management of perishable and non-perishable food commodities at the retail level. Issues in traditional versus new models of retain with emphasis on the marketing mix. Introduction to vendor, category and shelf management. 4 lectures.

Agricultural marketing research data collection and analysis. Emphasis on food sector market segmentation, product positioning, new product testing, sales forecasting, and marketing plan development through secondary and primary data sources. Experimental research design and implementation. 4 lectures.

Development of agribusiness marketing plans in self-managed teams. Emphasis on developing presentation skills. Integration of marketing mix, particularly promotional elements in developing agribusiness marketing strategy emphasized. 4 lectures.

Risk management strategies and tools applied to the agribusiness industry, focusing on risks in agriculture. Forward contracting, futures and options, swaps, crop insurance, trading and hedging strategies, and their applications to agribusiness problems. 4 lectures.

Agricultural resource allocation issues with emphasis on policies that impact the production of food and fiber and inputs used in their production. Special topics in agricultural resource allocation stressing issues and policies emphasizing economic externalities. 4 lectures.

Scope and elements of the agribusiness logistics system including supply and distribution channels, transportation, inventory, warehousing, packaging, and order processing. 4 lectures.

Focus on the development and application of decision models in food supply chains with emphasis on demand forecasting, aggregate planning, inventory management (cycle and food safety), supply network design, transportation, coordination and sourcing. 4 lectures.

Advanced topics in agricultural business data analysis. Topics include advanced agricultural price analysis, advanced linear programming in agribusiness, and advanced agricultural business operations analysis. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. 4 lectures.

Visitation to selected agribusinesses. Organization, operation, services and problems considered. Can only be taken once for credit in the major.

Directed group study of fresh fruit and vegetable sales and marketing. Analysis of marketing from the perspective of the Grower Shipper, Specialty Produce Marketer, Terminal Market Wholesaler, Food Broker, Food Service Supplier, Retailer and International Marketing. Field trip required. 2 lectures, 2 seminars.

Development of strategy for agribusinesses where an uncontrollable environment makes output and results highly unpredictable; emphasis on the total enterprise. Case analysis. 4 lectures.

Development of skills for quantity and price determination in a noncompetitive setting. Emphasis on examining the agribusiness industry structures that exist and their effects on decision-making. The use of game theory demonstrated as a strategy formulation tool. 4 lectures.

Selection and analysis of agribusiness problems and opportunities in directed group-based projects. Exploration of problems which agribusiness graduate students may encounter in marketing, finance, management and production in the food and fiber industry. Formal report and presentation required. 4 lectures.

Client-centered course where self-managed teams develop solutions to agribusiness problems. Exploration of problems typical to those which agribusiness graduates may encounter in marketing, finance, management and production in the food and fiber industry. Formal report and presentation to client required. 4 lectures.

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures.