AE 461 - Farm/Field Management Simulation

3 Credits

Outline Effective Date 2023 Fall
4

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 (Student Managed Farm II) 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 the Crop Technology students. It is a requirement to a diploma in Crop Technology for those students who choose the AE 460 (practicum) option in place of AE 450 (Student Managed Farm II). The simulated scenarios to which the class is presented provides the students a flavour of real-life decisions that farmers and farm management teams face on a seasonal basis. Experiences 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:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

investigate the challenges of grain storage and conditioning to maintain grain quality for marketing purposes.
create breakeven costs for crops based on historical costs and projected production.
devise a marketing plan for the harvested crop volumes and grades.
follow recent current markets to simulate marketing activities.
create cropping intentions plans based on markets, production history, soil tests, and sustainability objectives.
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 had taken and provide a final presentation.

Content of Course:
Topics/Activities in this course include:

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

Course Assessments:
The evaluation of this course is as follows:

Assignments - a written report of all the findings of the group and reasons that support the group decision.	15 %
Tasks - a written report of all tasks accomplished throughout the semester, including dates and amount of time spent	25 %
Goals - two written smart goals you will work on achieving by the semesters end	15 %
Final presentation - based on the quality of the overall product and the presentation of the group as a whole and on individual effort.	25 %
Peer evaluations - evaluations by your peers on the quality of your work and your participation within the group.	20 %

“Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies related to academic conduct and academic honesty 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.

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

Attendance

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.