Ag
Econ 170 
Ag
Econ 170 
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The central focus of this course in advanced
analytic methods is to provide agricultural business majors
with a basic understanding of how to complete successful project analyses
in the area of farm management, finance, marketing and basic supply demand
analysis. Basic analytic techniques borrowing from the fields of finance,
economics and agriculture are incorporated into a computer intensive
analytic framework. A detailed course objective may be reviewed in
an outline of course objectives available
for viewing and printing with Microsoft Word. In addition, a
semester project. chosen by the student must
be completed in order to successfully complete the course. Instruction in
the use of computerized data bases as incorporated into financial, farm
management and feastibility projects continues all semester. These shorter
projects contribute to a better understanding of how analytic techniques
can be applied to economic policies, investment opportunities, market
feasibility and supply demand analysis.
About one-third of the course is spent in developing an understanding of how basic analytic projects are successfully completed, using the scientific method. Another third of the course is spent in how to use computer based analytic techniques and relevant primary and secondary bases are used for the same purpose. The last third of the course is spent on developing and completing the project. This will involve student-instructor consultation from time-to-time. Computerized case studies are used throughout the course.
Specifically the course objectives are:
(1) Understand the role of research literature in solving problems in business, agricultural business and finance; (2) Understand the function of economics theory in analyzing the agricultural business environment; (3) Critically evaluate research and, especially, learn to evaluate evidence and claims of 'fact'; (4) Gain an understanding and familiarity with the agricultural data, data sources and literature; (5) Gain a familiarity with basic research tools and procedures, emphasizing use of built in functions available in commonly available software packages; (6) Encourage personal judgment relative to agricultural policy and agricultural business decision making, and (7) Develop a rubric for completing a research paper or project
About one-third of the course is spent in helping the student attain a basics understanding of how to complete a successful project. This segment of the course is primarily taught from the standpoint of completing basic research using the scientific method. This generalized instruction is coupled with computer based exercises using examples from farm management, finance and market analysis. We will buttress this tutorial approach with problems, case studies, examples and discussion in class. The class lectures in these areas will be periodically added in a Powerpoint format.
The first lecture series include
the role and place of science in research
and is based on a National Academy of Science book. The second lecture set
encompasses
scientific method and project analysis. The
class presentation considers the use of the scientific method in project
analysis and also contains
writing and publishing tips . It is available
in a PDF format. It is also downloadable in the Technical Writing and
Research section below. How do you cÔJ e a project?
Lecture notes and web references are
included in this presentation. Our case study series of basic analytic
tools kicks off with this
case study in partial budgeting. Investment
analysis in more detail continues, this case study involving the
use of basic discounting tools. For
those of you planning a project in the area of personal finance, this
module considering
firm growth and personal finance may be of
interest. Principles necessary for analyzing our first contemporary policy
analysis are summarized in this agricultural
policy analysis module.
The section on data analysis kicks off with a series on data collection,
interpretation and analyis in this
data series analysis presentation. It also
contains links to many agriculture and business data sites.
The second set of lectures on data analysis emphasizes the role of
statistical and graphic tools useful in data evaluation and presentation,
particularly emphazing the use of Excel© in
.graphically and statistically evaluating
data. It also contains tips on the use of specialty graphics.
The third set of lectures regarding data analysis considers some basic
procedures in
price forecasting using Excel.
A three lecture set regarding analyzing large studies and segmenting
them into smaller, more workable parts, is presented in a case study
format. It considers some basic approaches in
market feasibility analysis and
enumerates and evaluates a variety of tools used in assessing each
segment.
This course is computer intensive. Computer proficiencies are necessary.
The necessary
detailed proficiencies expectations are
available for viewing and printing. Some of the problems are quite complex
but emphasis is placed on the economic meaning of results and "what-if"
situations rather than programming. Lack of familiarity with Excel can
cause inadvertent damage to a spreadsheet exercise. Emphasis in most
assignments is placed on data input and interpretation of changes in key
variables rather than spreadsheet construction. Students with computer
skills and an interest in Farm Management are welcome to modify templates
for their own use in business or other classes
Students participate in a realistic, competitive, real world market exercise by evaluating and presenting analysis of cases from the Wall Street during the semester. Participants will be organized into teams for purpose of discussion and presentation critique.
One mid-term and one or two announced quizzes are part of the course regimen. Periodic quizzes and a final will be given during the course of the semester. Approximate release dates and availability are noted below. Quiz due dates are printed on the quizzes.
Download Quiz1701.doc 10/10 (20 KB)
Download Final170Rev.doc 12/04 (32 KB)
While the course is listed as a lecture course, in reality, it is a lab-lecture combination. A lab exercise is periodically assigned. The approximate release date for each assignment is listed in the download description. The actual release date for assignments will be announced in class. Due dates for each of the assignments are listed in the problem documentation. Be sure and check the site frequently. This page will be periodically changed to reflect new or changing future assignments.
Periodically, I will be adding sites and papers which may be of value to you in your project. There are several good places to start for self study of technical writing. I like Ken Lachnicht's Technical Writing With Style, for a good "links" based Web site, go to MIT's writing links web page. If you want the "works in a style manual" go to the University of Minnesota's style manual for A to Z references in writing. Many other good sites and links are accessible on the Web. Try a Google search with something like "Technical Writing Punctuation Numbers"..etc. and find your own. Complete writing courses are available if you want to improve your technical writing skills. A comprehensive free technical writing course site is available at Free Ed Net. Helpful writing tips are also available at Ohio University's website.
I will also have various guides technical writing and research guides, links and documentspresented in class avaliable here. Upload date and a brief descriptions of the relevant paper are listed below.
Lecture presented 9/9/02. Sample document involving both scientific method and word processing and web publishing tips Also included in Course Notes section
Download Scie_sol.pdf 9/9 (242 KB)
Documentation, approximate release dates and assignments are listed below. Preceding each is a brief description. Complete description of the assignment is available in the documentation. Best Option: use the "Save this program to disk" option if prompted and save to a course folder you have created on your hard disk rather than opening from the site. This provides a permanent copy and you can then open from your appropriate folder using either Word or Excel. If it opens directly, then you should save to your hard disk using the "File:Save" option from the program menu
Evaluating an Investment Alternative.
Problem documentation for a farm investment decision using a basic tool--partial budgeting.
Download Partial170.doc 9/13 (50 KB)
Download Partial170.xls 9/13 (20 KB)
Problem documentation for a study of market demand as measured by per capita consumption
Download Milkconsprob.doc 10/4 (68 KB)
Problem documentation for the capital budgeting problem
Download CapitalBudg.doc 11/14 (94 KB)
Solution set for the capital budgeting problem
Download CaptalBudgetA.xls 11/20 (50 KB)
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E-Mail jamesco@csufresno.edu