Farm management and decision tools
[BIRA2104]
[45h + 7.5h] 5 credits
This course is taught in the 2d semester.
Teacher(s): Jean-Marie Bouquiaux, Frédéric Gaspart
Language: French
Level: Second
Aims
Part 1
1. Understanding decision processes and the various methods of decision making most commonly relied upon in agronomics, environmental sciences, economics and management
2. Taking into account risk and multi-criteria objectives
3. Formulating decision problems as they occur in agronomics and in natural resources management ; picking adequate methods
Part 2
1. Ability to identify and to compare specifics characteristics of the economy and the management of the majors agricultural factors of production (ground, buildings, capital, intermediates consumptions, manpower, )
2. Ability to understand and to utilize the mains decision-making tools available on the farm level (global and partial budget, linear programming, programme planning, accounting system) and at regional level (group analysis, factorial analysis, principal components analysis, models, simulations, ..)
3. Ability to understand and to analyse the structure, functioning and performance of the main agricultural production and agricultural dies.
4. Ability to apply in concrete terms the concepts and analysis techniques through supervised exercises.
Main themes
The course outlines, explains and compares various methods and decision making tools available in natural and social sciences. It distinguishes (and shows the complementarities of) statistics and economic analysis. Multi-criteria decisions and decisions under uncertainty in situations with several interacting decision-makers are illustrated with examples taken in fields relevant for the students.
Part 2
After an introduction on the agricultural production economy and on the mains agricultural economic accounts, the majors agricultural factors are characterized and explained to perform the management of agricultural enterprise.
The mains tools of decision making and of analysis are explained and exploited (exercises).
Main agricultural productions and food channels are analysed, notably bovines, pigs and poultry farming and meats, milk, .. dies.
The development of agricultural sector in Belgium and in Europe are analysed and main challenges are underlined.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
Pre-requisite: knowledge and know-how in the basic courses of the bio-engineer's program, namely mathematics, system analysis, micro-economics (BIR1342 or 1343)
Related courses: Integrated exercises, Interdisciplinary project in agronomics, Integrated project, Land use seminar, M.A. Thesis
Part 2 :
Pre-requisite: vegetable productions, animal productions, agricultural and rural policy, firm strategy, market analysis,
Evaluation : written exam (part 1: exercises)