I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Directed Study - Strategies in Farm Commodity Marketing

2. Course Prefix & Number:
FBMT 2182

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 1

4. Course Description:

This course will help students identify and implement marketing strategies necessary to achieve their farm business and personal goals.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Name of Program(s)	Program Type
Agricultural Commodities Marketing	Certificate

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Articulate a revised marketing plan.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Provide an ideal marketing plan while comparing/contrasting to real market factors.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Work with instructor and local broker/trader/contractor to set contracts.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

Expected Outcome	MnTC Goal Area
Revise cropping plans with improved marketing strategies.
Compare and select from various sources of marketing investment.
Calculate financial return to your marketing investment.
Calculate cash flow changes with improved marketing planning strategies.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

I. Rewrite marketing plan A. Gather data and establish a detailed long term marketing plan appropriate to the students farm operation B. Select marketing plans appropriate to farm business and personal goals C. Revise cropping plans with improved marketing strategies

II. Evaluate current marketing situation A. Compare and select from various sources of marketing information B. Chart seasonal and local basis movements of interest to the student C. Refine crop insurance program participation to enhance farm cash flow D. Monitor brokerage and advisor accounts

III. Use a combination of marketing strategies to enhance farm profit A. Calculate the financial return to your marketing investment B. Calculate cash flow changes with improved marketing planning strategies