Farm Business Management

Register for Farm Business Management classes through Central Lakes College

Management Programs: “Management Programs” are where instruction is delivered to owners/operators/managers of farm and small business in the form of management credits. Students use their business entities as a base for case study and receive instruction that applies to business and financial principles. Instruction is primarily delivered in an individualized format at the student’s business but is supplemented by appropriate group, classroom, or distance instruction. Specific programs include: Farm Business Management, Sparsity Farm Business Management, Small Business Management, Computerizing Small Business, Lamb & Wool Management and Specialty Crop Management.

Management Credit: “Management Credits” recognize the direct application of instruction by the student at the business on a continuous basis and give the student credit for those applications and experiences. The management credit equates to 48 hours of total student effort under the semester system, which includes 4 hours of formal instruction and 44 hours of student application.

FBM Resources

DPT Scholarship Authorization Form (pdf)
FBM Registration Balance Worksheet
FBM Program Planning Guide (Excel file)
Release of Information Authorization

The primary emphasis of Farm Business Management is to assist farm families in meeting their business and personal goals through quality farm records and sound business decisions. Farm Business Management is designed to work closely with active, functional farmers and persons interested in farming as a business.

This program is primarily taught at the student’s place of business, or using a confidential, web-based discussion session, rather than in a traditional classroom. Individualized instruction is used to the fullest. The instructor visits the farm on a regular basis and understands the strengths and weaknesses of each student’s business.  Additional seminars or co-hort discussion groups may also be offered as a part of the educational program.

Developing a set of sound farm records is the basis for the program. Primarily, computerized accounting is used to handle the complex records which must be kept in an efficient farm business. At the close of the calendar year, these records are summarized with assistance of the instructor and a computerized business analysis is prepared for each student to show how well their business did financially during the year. Each student also receives an Area Farm Business Analysis summary, which allows them to compare their information with averages of other Farm Business Management students (farmers) in their local area and in North Central & Northwestern Minnesota.

To best meet the needs of the Farm Business Management student, instructors work very closely with farm lenders, Ag extension personnel, and other Ag professionals. Instructors must be informed of current issues relating to agriculture, because a decision made today on the farm may be implemented the following day and will influence the long-range future of that business.

Primary Instruction Includes:

Financial Management
Business Analysis
Crop and Livestock Profitability
Computerized Accounting
Cash Flow Planning
Goal Setting
Marketing Strategies
Transition Planning
Breakeven Analysis

Program Listings

State FBM Website

Employment Statistics

For more information regarding employment statistics, career salary information and estimated job growth, follow the resource links below:

https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/ces/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
http://www.iseek.org/jobs/jobmarket.html