Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Business - Farm and Ranch Management

Program Description

Agribusiness is a dynamic industry with a high degree of global and technological sophistication. The agribusiness sector includes companies that are on the cutting edge in the use of biotechnology, strategy, information systems, risk management, logistics and international trade. The study of agricultural business involves the application of business and economic principles to farming and ranching and related sectors of the general economy. Training in agricultural business includes courses in agricultural firm management, marketing farm products, farm credit and finance, agricultural prices and outlook, agricultural policy, management science, agricultural law, technical agriculture and the business aspects of industries serving agriculture. Surveys indicate that employers seek out graduates with expertise in communication, critical thinking, business management and quantitative analyses. Our program specifically develops each of these skills.

For a student who expects to work in agricultural production and eventually own and operate a farm or ranch, the farm and ranch management option provides a vital set of management skills for success in undertaking the investment and complicated business aspects of farming and ranching. The future farm or ranch manager needs to be familiar with marketing, finance, business management, and the global agribusiness system in which production agriculture operates. Farm and ranch management is a strong academic program designed to provide marketing, management, and finance skills. This curriculum is supplemented with courses that emphasize technical agricultural issues.