| Module Identifier |
RD10320 |
| Module Title |
THE RURAL RESOURCE |
| Academic Year |
2002/2003 |
| Co-ordinator |
Mr Penri James |
| Semester |
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters) |
| Course delivery |
Lecture | 40 Hours |
| |
Practical | 21 Hours |
| Assessment |
Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 7 | 50% |
| |
Semester Assessment | Budgeting assignment Outcomes assessed: 4, 5, 6 Supplementary assessment : candidates will be required to retake the element(s) of assessment that resulted in failure of the module. | 50% |
Learning outcomes
Outcome 1
Identify the factors that influence land use patterns.
Performance criteria:
a. Differing land use patterns are identified
b. Geographical distribution of land use identified
c. Factors that affect the pattern of land use identified
Ranges:
Land use : crops, livestock, leisure, tourism, forestry and woodland, urban, water
Distribution : regional, national, Europe
Factors : location, geography, market forces, statute, designation, access
Value : physical, economic
Outcome 2
Explain forms of land occupation and transfer
Performance criteria:
a. Pattern access and occupation of land established
b. Legal framework of land tenure identified
c. Procedures for transferring land occupancy explained
Ranges:
Access : landowners, public, footpaths, bridleways, byways, prescriptive rights of way, access agreements.
Occupation : private individuals, public bodies, companies, financial institutions
Tenure : owner occupier, tenant, share farming, common land, leases
Conveyance : public auction, private sale, duty and obligation of vendor, buyer, agent, solicitor
Outcome 3
Describe the planning system as it affects the rural context
Performance criteria:
a. The development plan process is identified and assessed
b. The development control process is identified and assessed
c. The influence of government, organisations and the public within the planning system is identified and assessed
d. Planning tools within the planning system are identified and assessed
Ranges:
Development plans : Structure Plans, Unitary Development Plans, Local Plans
Development control : application, determination, appeal, enforcement
Influence : government (central and local), Planning Policy Guidance, Circulars, Statutory undertakers, public
Planning tools : designations, conditions, enforcement, Agenda 21, agreements
Outcome 4
Identify the requisites of an accounting environment
Performance criteria:
a. The need for an accounting system identified
b. Relevant information and sources identified
c. Relationship between profit, cash, capital identified
d. Trading periods identified and explained
Ranges
Need : record, monitor, assess performance
Information : physical, financial, farm records, bank statements, management reports
Relationship : receipts, payments, finance, creditors, debtors, depreciation, cash flow
Periods : monthly, quarterly, annual
Outcome 5
Collate information to measure the effect of known objectives on the financial status of a business.
Performance criteria:
a. Proposed system described
b. Relevant physical assumptions accurately stated
c. Relevant financial assumptions accurately stated
Ranges:
System : Physical location, area, land quality, stock, buildings, grant eligibility, financial status
Assumptions : Livestock, crops, market returns, business costs, personal
Outcome 6
Construct budgets to demonstrate the effect of future plans on the financial status of a business
Performance criteria:
a. Financial statements constructed
b. Financial end result of proposed plan established
c. Sensitivity of plan to change quantified
d. Financial statements reconciled
Ranges
Statements : Gross margins, fixed costs, forage costs, TPLB, balance sheet, cashflow budget,
Plan : Gross margins, business profit, net worth, cash flow, financial analyis calculations
Sensitivity : Gross margin, profit, cash flow, market forces
Reconciliation : Net worths, profit and net cash flow
Outcome 7
Explain the basic economic principles that affect the rural economy
Performance criteria:
a. The factors that affect supply and demand are reviewed.
b. The market mechanism and the equilibrium condition of supply and demand are
assessed.
c. The role and the states of the market are evaluated.
d. The reasons behind and methods of government intervention in markets are
explained.
Ranges
Determinants of supply, elasticity of supply, demand and elasticity of demand.
Markets and prices: perfect competition, oligopoly and monopoly.
Intervention: legislation, taxation and subsidies.
Simulation: the consumer, the firm and the market place.
Brief description
This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the primary resources required to operate a rural business and to provide an understanding of the business and economic environment in which those resources operate. Land is the main resource in the land based industries; students will identify current land use patterns in the UK and examine physical, leagl and economic factors that influence land use. This module will also provide students with business management skills. It is essential that prospective managers of small businesses are able to construct a series of financial statements based on historical data that will give a measure of financial performance. These skills can be further developed using known physical and financial data to budget and develop future plans for the resources in use.
Transferable skills
.1 Independent project work
The budgeting assignment will entail the student collating relevant information about a rural business and working independently to produce a report.
.2 IT and information handling
This will be developed in the budgeting assignment through the use of spreadsheets
.3 Use and analysis of numerical information
This will be developed in the budgeting assignment and in preparatory exercises
.5 Oral discussion and presentation
Land designation seminars will develop oral presentation skills
Visit to business will to collect information will develop oral discussion skills
.7 Self-management
Deadline will be set for land designation seminar
.8 Group activity
This will form part of the land designation seminars
Reading Lists
Books
Warren, M F.
Financial management for farmers and growers.
Weetman, P.
Financial and management accounting.
Secrett, M.
Mastering spreadsheet budgets and forecasts.
Turner, J and Taylor, M. (1998)
Applied farm management. 2nd. Blackwell Science
Department of the Environment, Welsh Office. (1992)
A farmers' guide to the planning system. MAFF
Nix, - Hill, - and Williams -. Land and estate management
Riddall, J G.
Introduction to land law.
Howarth, W.
Land law nutshells.
Card R, Murdoch J and Schofield P.
Law for estate management students.