AE 461 - Farm/Field Management Simulation

3 Credits

Outline Effective Date: Academic Year 2025/2026
Revised Date: Sep 3, 2025
Date Approved: Sep 3, 2025

Lecture Hours: 42 Tutorial Hours: 42

Course Description:
Second Year Crop Technology students who have chosen the Ag Practicum option AE 460 to AE 450 follow that practicum experience with this course, in which they simulate the grain storage and marketing, as well as the crop planning and budgeting activities for the upcoming crop season. Working as a team, they experience the challenges faced by farmers on an annual basis. They are graded on their proficiency at completing various time-sensitive assignments.

Rationale:
This course is for Crop Technology students. It is a requirement to a diploma in Crop Technology for those students who choose the AE 460 option in place of AE 450. The simulated scenarios to which the class is presented provides the students with a flavour of real-life decisions that farmers and farm management teams face on a seasonal basis. Experience gained from working through those problems and finding solutions provides students an understanding of modern and current farm management.

Prerequisites: AE 460
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes the course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. investigate the challenges of grain storage and conditioning to maintain grain quality for marketing purposes.

2. create breakeven costs for crops based on historical costs and projected production.

3. devise a marketing plan for the harvested crop volumes and grades.

4. follow recent current markets to simulate marketing activities.

5. create cropping intentions plans based on markets, production history, soil tests, and sustainability objectives.

6. formally present the activities of the storage, marketing, and planning of the simulated SMF farm.

Required Resource Materials:
None

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:
This course consists of 42 hours of supervised independent study. Students are given real SMF farm data and information and work together to search for solutions and directive actions for the management of the farm. At the end of the term, they prepare a group report on the simulated steps they have taken and provide a final presentation.

Students are expected to attend all classes. Absences totaling 20% or more of class time may result in the student receiving a grade of R/W - required withdrawal - which results in a failing grade in the course.

Content of Course:

Creating crop storage plans
Calculating breakeven costs for crops based on field records and harvested volumes.
Devising a marketing plan
Simulating marketing activities.
Create cropping intentions plans.
Preparing and presenting the activities of the storage, marketing, and planning of the simulated SMF farm to peers and instructors.

Course Assessments:

Assignments	15%
Tasks	25%
Goals	15%
Final Presentation	25%
Peer Evaluation	20%
Total	100%

Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.
“Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course.

Letter	F	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A	A+
Percent Range	0-49	50-52	53-56	57-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80-84	85-89	90-94	95-100
Points	0.00	1.00	1.30	1.70	2.00	2.30	2.70	3.00	3.30	3.70	4.00	4.00

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

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