Agribusiness Management

Generations of Oregon family farms, of all sizes, have depended on Chemeketa for professional development, workforce training and support for helping them continue to be successful. For over 50 years we have served more than 1,400 farms in the Willamette Valley. We are here to help Oregon ag grow.

topics Agricultural Sciences

Skills & InterestLeadership

CareersAgricultural Science

Why choose Agribusiness Management?

Our objective is empowering program participants with an understanding of sound business management principles and practices through a focus on effective financial record keeping analysis and interpretation.

You will learn state-of-the industry farm management skills, including –

Business planning and organizational structure
Optimization of production inputs through the Lean process
Business financial records completion and interpretations
Cost of production by class or enterprise
Succession planning and exit strategies
Tax strategies
Employee relations and labor issues
Leadership on the farm and in the community

What will you learn?

You will learn to create and maintain –

Record keeping, records analysis and interpretation
Goal setting: individual, family and business
Cost of production
Balance sheets
Profit and loss statement
- By enterprise or crop system
- Whole farm
- Budgets and cash flow
- The importance of Cash vs. Accrual accounting

What will you do?

You will be able to apply the best practices in the industry in running a farm business. Your knowledge will provide more business stability and increased opportunity for success and security for you and your family.

How and When to Join the Program

Enrollment (Next enrollment September 2021)
We are accepting applications for Year One to begin Fall 2021.
- Request an application packet by contcting the instructor,
- The instructor will need your U.S Postal address to mail you "new student" materials and forms.
- Complete a class application (informational form) as soon as possible to reserve a spot in the class.
- Formal registration will occur Fall of 2021.

Courses Offered For 2021-2022

Course Descriptions
Agribusiness Management Program (Non-Credit) Enrollmnent is open
503.399.5089

Our Agribusiness Management Program focuses on the basic principles of agricultural recordkeeping and financial management education.
These non-credit courses provide agricultural business education for owners, family members and key personnel, including –
- Use of recordkeeping software
- Use of spreadsheet software
- Setting goals
- Staying informed about business and farming regulations
- Understanding cost of production
- Market fluctuations
- Interpreting and learning agricultural policy
- Succession planning and resolving family transition issues
- Payroll and employee issues
- Emerging and advancing technology.
The major emphasis is on the development and maintenance of a complete set of records and the skills necessary to interpret the records and use the information to make sound agricultural business management decisions regardless of the size of the farm business. The program is designed for a minimum commitment of three years, but because of ever-changing technology, policies and practices and changes in key personnel, an agricultural business may choose to enroll for numerous years.

These classes are taught in a classroom with additional instruction at your place of business for independent instruction that is tailored to fit your needs. Distance, online and evening classes are not available at this time.

Courses for 2021-2022

Agribusiness Management Year 1
Emphasizes setting agricultural business goals; developing a complete set of farm financial records; and analyzing those records for management decision making.

Agribusiness Management Year 2
Monitors and assesses financial position of the agricultural business based upon records and analysis obtained in AgriBusiness Management YEAR 1. Explores computerized accounting and income tax management.

Agribusiness Management Year 3
Focuses on reorganizing the agricultural business based on accumulated financial data. Further develops estate, retirement and labor management plans.

Agribusiness Management Year 5
Applies recordkeeping skills to individual businesses. Seminars scheduled and at-business training and support of record keeping, succession planning and employment policy.
Top 14 Questions about the Agribusiness Management Program

1. How old is the AgriBusiness Management Program at Chemeketa Community College?
Answer:The Program was started in the fall of 1970.

2. Does the size or type of farm matter?
Answer: No. This is a business management class. The concepts and training provided are not directed by the size/type of farm but rather the discipline of running a business.

3. Is it a degree program?
Answer: No. The courses are taught on a non-credit basis with the student population consisting typically of “agricultural families” and managers of family held agricultural businesses.

4. Does this class train me how to keep better records, analyze these records and manage a farm business.
Answer: Yes! ABM is the epitome of workforce training, vocational training and professional development as it recognizes the training needs on an individual needs and meets those needs to make the individual better suited to the job.

5. Does the Instructor assist in soliciting new students?
Answer: Yes. The Instructors are constantly seeking out new students from the agricultural community. Traditionally the instructors are very active in the farm community.

6. How many individuals from the same business may participate?
Answer: The business may have more than one individual attending the class at the same time. It’s not uncommon to have situations including “husband/wife”, “sister/brother”, “niece/uncle”, “owner/bookkeeper”, or other combinations including family members and employees.

7. How often are classes held?
Answer: Traditionally the classes are divided into two lecture groups with 11 sessions for the “Year One” and six sessions for “Years 2-5”. Optional QuickBooks and Excel technology workshops are offered for those seeking additional training. All sessions are held from October to April.

8. Does the Program follow any specific standards in its presentation of farm accounting?
Answer: Yes. The program adheres to the criteria established by the Farm Financial Standards Council and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

9. What does an individual expect to learn from the course?
Answer: During the first year a foundation on keeping complete farm business records is taught along with learning about cost of production, budgeting, business structures and establishing goals.

10. What is the age of the typical student?
Answer: Typical students fall into no age group. Students range in age from their teens to their 80’s.

11. Does all instruction occur in a campus classroom?
Answer: No. Much of the instruction occurs while meeting with families, managers and bookkeepers at their place of business; working with them on their specific financial and bookkeeping issues in a confidential environment.

12. Is record keeping the only issue discussed?
Answer: No. The Instructors cover many topics selected for their relevancy to Oregon family farms. Additional examples include: succession planning; farm contracts; water rights; labor law; lending practices; checkbook and account reconciling; enterprise and cost of production analysis; and updates on tax planning and strategies.

13. Do the Instructors use agricultural professionals to present a topic?
Answer: Yes. The Instructors utilize professionals from around the area such as attorneys and CPA’s to present topics that are relevant to the success of your business.

14. Do the instructors have farming backgrounds and experiences in agriculture?
Answer: The college goes to great length to secure instructor with farming backgrounds combined with solid education in farm business management. It is quite likely that instructors grew up on farms and have owned farms. Collectively they have experience in lending, appraisals, real estate, marketing, accounting, business management, employee management and agricultural education.

Year One Schedule for 2021-22

Welcome to the 2021-22 anticapated course Outline for Year One of the AgriBusiness education at Chemeketa Community College. The formal dates have not been assigned. Traditionally Year One has start late in the Fall Term on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and run until Mid-April with about two class per month on Tuesday mornings. Contact the course instructor for more information and to receive course application an registration forms.

AgriBusiness Management - Year 1

Class Location: Chemeketa Community College, Salem Campus - Building 60 Room

Class Dates: To be announced – Typically begins in November and ends in April on Tuesdays

Class Time: 9:00 AM to Noon

Instructor: Phil La Vine

Note: Please schedule additional confidential on-farm assistance/training to meet your specific business needs.

Session	Topic
1	Program Introduction, Overview & Goals - Writing “Smart” goals for Personal, Family and Business – for 1, 5 and 10 plus years. Preparing a SWOT Analysis – What is SWOT and why is it important. Discussion on “WHY” records are kept and the importance of using your records to strengthen and build your farm business.
2	Office Setup – Practical, Efficient & Engaging Inventory Management & Solutions – Managing inventory so it doesn’t manage you. Tracking and valuing inventory.
3	Succession Plans - Objective - Learn what works and what doesn’t. When to start. How to handle changes in plans. How to build a team. Joint class with Years 1, 2, 3 & 5.
4	Record Keeping: The Basics- Keeping accurate and informative records versus “garbage in garbage out”. How to interpret data. Continuous Improvement – Application of systems that drive success, provide for business growth and focus on recognizing future business objectives.
5	Profit & Loss, Ratios Analysis & “Cash vs. Accrual” Accounting - What drives farm practices and efficiencies? Recognizing Farm Financial Standards and GAAP.
6	Net Worth Statement – Assets, Liabilities and Owners Equity. Balance sheet structure and nuances of agriculture. Cost vs. market valuations. Developing the best chart of accounts for your business. Why!
7	Business Structures - Using the best business structure – Proprietorships, Partnerships, LLC or Corporation – which is best for you. Why!
8	Records Analysis and Interpretation – How, When & Why Depreciation - Real depreciation vs. functional and economic obsolescence and the IRS Tax Code.
9	Enterprising Strategies – Income and expense allocations amongst crops, overhead and production. Social Styles - Understanding social styles and their importance.
10	Budgets & Cash Flows – Making realistic projections using internal and external information. Whole farm, partial and family budgets – why they are necessary.
11	Year End Review & Conclusion.

Year Two - Five Seminar Series 2021-22 Schedule
Agribusiness Management 2021-22 Seminar Schedule - Classes 2, 3 & 5

The 2021/22 Seminar Sessions were as follows:

Seminar Session 1 - Tuesday, October 26, 2021 In classroom and Zoom Presentation
- Speaker #1 at 9am
Dennis Gamroth of Pacific Risk Management, Inc.

Dennis focus is on agricultural and food businesses with a “total risk approach” as compared to a focus on insurance products. A great speaker with lots of agricultural experience.
- Speaker #2 at about 10:15 am
Rob Aldridge of EARTHLIGHT – solar and energy solutions

Earthlight is the “preferred solar vendor” for the Oregon Farm Bureau

Rob will be talking about Energy Trust of Oregon, USDA’s REAP program, farm tax credits, tax savings from depreciation, and how you can recover a significant amount of your investment if you convert your business to solar. No sales-just information!

Seminar Session 2 - December 14, 2021 In classroom and Zoom Presentation

Lenders Panel at 9am

Find out what Valley Lenders are thinking about???
- Interest Rates?
- Commodity Prices
- Good Crops – Bad crops
- Special Programs
- And much more…
Seminar Session 3 - Tuesday, January 11 , 2022 In Classroom and Zoom Presentation

Proposed - Family Farm Succession and Farm Retirement

Seminar Session 4 - Tuesday, January 26, 2022 In Classroom and Zoom Presentation

Proposed - Farm and Family Budgeting - What you need to know

Seminar Session 5 - Tuesday, February 15, 2022 In Classroom and Zoom Presentation

Proposed - Employment Laws

Seminar Session 6 - Tuesday, March 1, 2022 In Classroom and Zoom Presentation

Proposed - Climate Predictions for this summer

Schedules are subject to change.

CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION