Agri-Business Management
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Program Overview
Agribusiness is the study of agricultural production - managing each step of the supply chain from farm to table and everything in between. A dynamic and complex field, agribusiness is adaptive and flexible, responding to new technological advances while remaining sustainable globally. You’ll graduate with a competitive edge – understanding business fundamentals and industry specific training.
Program Details
Program Code
AGM2B
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
36 weeks
Your Learning Experience
Agribusiness is the study of agricultural production - managing every step of the supply chain from farm to table and everything in between. A dynamic and complex field, agribusiness is adaptive and flexible, responding to new technological advances while remaining sustainable globally.
Fanshawe's Agri-Business Management graduate certificate will allow you to enter the agricultural sector at a supervisory level, preparing you to either manage an existing organization or as an entrepreneur. You’ll graduate with a competitive edge – understanding business fundamentals and industry specific training. In just eight months, our program will cover:
- Sales and marketing;
- Human resources and relationship management;
- Occupational health and safety;
- Accounting and finance;
- Food safety and traceability;
- Safe handling and application of pesticides;
- Precision technologies such as GPS and drone applications.
Finding the balance between theory and practice is what Fanshawe does best. Our Agri-Business Management program offers traditional lectures and practical hands-on training, as well as a six week field placement, giving you the experience you need to succeed.
Note: This program is also offered in Simcoe.
Career Information
The agriculture industry is experiencing revolutionary change and growth, driven mostly by technology but also new standards for food safety and the proliferation of farm-to-consumer business ventures. This new reality presents many exciting career opportunities for aspiring agri-business managers. Graduates of Fanshawe’s Agri-Business Management program have the applicable skills to grow their career in a wide variety of agricultural businesses, including very large farms, smaller intensive farming enterprises, food processing and distribution firms, boutique enterprises that market their own products, and agricultural supply firms such as lending or sales enterprises. Graduates have entered the industry in roles such as supervisor in a production facility (e.g. poultry farms, mushroom growers) and supervisor / quality assurance technician in food processing plants.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduate employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Marketing Management program:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Have a positive impact on safeguarding Ontario's food chain and ensuring animal welfare.
Grain Elevator Operator
Purchase grain from farmers, determine the grade, and weight of delivery while maintaining a highly developed awareness of safety procedures.
Senior Agricultural Consultant
Meet or exceed financial targets through strong customer crop plans and tactical plans.
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Learning Outcomes
- Manage key operations (e.g., marketing, recruitment, finance) of a small to medium-sized agricultural enterprise.
- Communicate business-related information persuasively and accurately in oral, written, and graphic formats.
- Manage employees in compliance with provincial Acts to ensure their safety and productivity.
- Manage an agri-business enterprise within the confines of regulatory requirements and public policy.
- Assess new and emerging technologies available for use in an agri-business environment, and arrange for the effective implementation of these technologies.
- Promote an agri-business and its products through new media and other platforms.
- Build and maintain customer relations within agricultural lending and sales contexts.
- Discover innovative solutions to address business problems and opportunities related to an agri-business venture.
- Research and interpret information related to an agri-business enterprise to ensure its efficiency and economic viability.
- Develop strategies for personal and professional development to enhance work performance and maximize opportunities in an agri-business enterprise.
Academic School
LSC
Program Coordinator:
Sandra Wilson, MSc, CRSP, CHSC
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
A Two- or Three-Year College Diploma or a Degree
(Note: minimum 'C+' average or cumulative 2.5 GPA)
OR
Acceptable combination of related work experience and
post-secondary education as judged by the College*
OR
Five years of work experience in the agri-business field as judged
by the College to be equivalent*
Note:
- *Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover letter that includes details of work experience and may be required to attend an interview.
- *Applicants may also be required to successfully complete a writing and/or numeracy assessment to demonstrate that the applicant has the requisite skills needed for academic success in this program.
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:
- A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years. SDS Program Requirements.
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 59, with test results within the last two years
- A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 176 with no language skill less than 169, with test results within the last two years
- An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with a minimum score of 75% in all sections of the test, with test results within the last two years
- Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10
Recommended Academic Preparation
Study in business or a field of study related to agriculture.Recommended Personal Preparation
- Applicants should have a sincere interest in working in the agricultural industry. The majority of employment opportunities will be in rural and small to mid-sized communities. Work experience in a related industry will provide very useful background. A driver's licence is a requirement for many placement opportunities.
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time sensitive. Please refer to www.fanshawec.ca/preplacement for important information about preparing for placement by the due date.
Evidence of Good Health Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database Placement AgreementCourses
| Year 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| MKTG-6022 | Relationship Mgmt & Selling Fundamentals | 3 | ||
| This course will emphasize the need for establishing a relationship with customers and potential customers in order to service the customer's business needs. The skills and processes needed to be a successful salesperson will be taught and reinforced through realistic and practical activities. | ||||
| MKTG-6023 | Agricultural Marketing | 3 | ||
| Students will examine a variety of marketing models for agri-business enterprises through guest lecture, seminar and field trips. | ||||
| FLDP-6018 | Field Placement Agri-Business | 6.4 | ||
| Six weeks or 240 hours of supervised work experience in an agri-business enterprise. Students with significant experience working in an agri-business enterprise may apply to be exempted from this requirement on the basis of their prior learning. | ||||
| FINA-6018 | Agricultural Finance | 3 | ||
| This course will develop students' abilities to examine, from a creditor's perspective, the financial plans, records, and skill sets of an agri-business owner or manager. Using a case study approach, students will analyse a business venture to determine the economic health of the venture, and make recommendations related to enhancing the viability of the venture and how financing may be structured. | ||||
| AGRI-6001 | Issues in the Agri-Food Industry | 3 | ||
| In this seminar course, the agriculture industry will be examined from a variety of perspectives to enhance how students perceive current and potential opportunities and challenges at play in the sector. Discussions and/or assignments may test conventional ideas and practices in the agri-food industry. Students will learn to think critically by listening to guest speakers or virtual presentations/youtube videos and by presenting their questions and point of view, through their assignments, on challenges and opportunities in agriculture. | ||||
| AGRI-6002 | Food Safety & Traceability | 3 | ||
| Students will learn the legal requirements and food industry best practices that are designed to ensure safety for consumers as food products transition from field to consumer. Topics include record keeping, coding, tracking and labeling for traceability; harvest, storage, transport and processing practices; and security, packaging, and product labeling. | ||||
| AGRI-6003 | Precision Technologies in Agriculture | 4 | ||
| Students will learn how precision agriculture has impacted many aspects of agricultural production, and will gain hands on experience with managing GPS technologies. The applications for advanced data collection sensors supported by GPS and complementary systems will also be explored. | ||||
| AGRI-6004 | Pest Control Management | 3 | ||
| This course will provide students with a comprehension of the basic concepts of pests in relation to agricultural practices. Principles of cultural, biological and chemical control will be outlined. Laboratories will include pest identification and pest control methods for various crops. Students will study the Grower Pesticide Safety Course and write the Grower Pesticide Safety Exam. | ||||
| ACCT-5012 | Managerial Accounting | 3 | ||
| Managers make extensive use of financial accounting records for operational and strategic decision making. This course emphasizes management accounting topics such as financial statement analysis, cost accounting approaches, cost allocation and analysis, and budgeting. This allows the student to understand the role of accounting in business and how accounting data is used in the decision-making process. | ||||
| MGMT-6088 | Employee Relations | 3 | ||
| Operations Managers need to work effectively with employees at all levels across the organization. In this course, students are introduced to human resources management principles and practices; the legal context of human resources; attracting and selecting new hires; employee development; and employee relations with specific emphasis on the operations management function within organizations. | ||||
| MGMT-6089 | Leadership & Management Fundamentals | 3 | ||
| In this course, the principles of effective leadership and management are examined with an emphasis on developing strategies for effectively managing groups of people. Situational leadership strategies, relating to the production of goods and services, will be analyzed with a view toward leading organizations through periods of change. Students work collaboratively to examine a variety of workplace issues through case study analysis, thereby learning to provide effective leadership as part of the management team. | ||||
| HLTH-6040 | Canadian Occupational Health & Safety | 3 | ||
| This course will provide students with an in-depth understanding of health & safety practices and risk management principles in occupational workplaces required by Human Resources Management Professionals. Topics include rights and responsibilities of firms and employees, economic impact of loss control, hazard recognition, assessment and controls for physical, chemical and biological agents, accident prevention, safety metrics, emergency preparedness, WHMIS, WSIB Act, and Occupational Health & Safety Legislation. This course is HRPA approved and is required to write the Comprehensive Knowledge Exam 1 (CKE1) and/or the Comprehensive Knowledge Exam 2 (CKE2). These exams are part of the attainment of the externally accredited entry level Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation (CKE1) and/or the advanced level Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation (CKE2), respectively. You must achieve a minimum of 65% in any one of the nine CHRP/CHRL courses and an overall average of 70% in these nine courses to be eligible to write the CKE1 and/or CKE 2. For further information on this designation, please see: https://www.hrpa.ca/ | ||||
| MGMT-5050 | New Media Marketing | 3 | ||
| This course will explore the changes taking place in present day marketing such as audience fragmentation, convergence, shifts towards consumer control, engagement, and an increasingly mobile and multi-tasking audience. Specific topics will investigate the use of marketing via email, mobile applications, digital/satellite television and related technologies, the internet, advergaming, social media (Blogs, YouTube, Social Networking sites), as well as the privacy/security/legal issues that relate to these items. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London South
Simcoe
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.