Aims of the module
This module is aimed at students with a limited knowledge of farm management. It aims to provide an understanding of the internal and external factors that influence a farm business, study the management options available to the farmer, develop farm business planning skills, and to study the role of farm management in influencing the rural environment.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate the factors that contribute to farm profitability

2. Apply farm management techniques

3. Identify and evaluate the effect of agricultural management on the rural environment

Syllabus / Curriculum design
The module examines:- the factors that influence farm profitability within arable, dairy beef and sheep systems; farm incomes; agricultural policy and its effect on system choice and profitability; introduction to gross margins and fixed costs; the techniques available for whole farm planning; farm system financial and physical interaction. The factors that influence profit and the techniques available to manage change and plan farms will be studied in detail.