B5301 - Farm Administration and Management

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires a general knowledge of the administrative and management aspects that influence the operations of farms and agricultural companies.

Course contents

Classroom activities (36 hours in total)

1. Introduction (1 hour). The first hour of class is a crucial session where we present the course contents and material, discuss the virtual platform, and set the tone for the course. Your active participation in this first lesson is vital, and your attendance will be recorded.

2. Agricultural businesses (6 hours)

2.1. Businesses as institutions

2.2. Definition of agricultural entrepreneur

2.3. Definition of professional agricultural entrepreneur, direct farmer and active farmer. Relevance of the notions for business management purposes

2.4. Individual businesses and corporate forms in agriculture

2.5. Private companies with public functions

3. Accounting and financial statements (6 hours)

3.1. The budget as a tool for knowledge and administrative obligations

3.2. The structure of the civil budget

3.3. The balance sheet

3.4. The income statement

3.5. The financial statement

3.6. Other documents related to the budget

4. Corporate accounting and reporting (6 hours)

4.1. Production costs: the technical-economic approach and the corporate approach

4.2. Cost analysis for management control

4.3. The company cost structure: factors of flexibility and rigidity

5. Administrative obligations: registration, variation and cancellation from the Company Register, accounting, tax and corporate books (3 hours)

6. Tax profiles of the agricultural company (7 hours)

6.1. Direct taxes and IRAP

6.2. Indirect taxes: VAT

6.3. Other taxes

7. Labour law profiles of the agricultural business (7 hours)

7.1. The employment relationship in the agricultural sector: between national regulation and collective bargaining

7.2. Social security and contribution aspects

Contents of laboratory activities (24 hours)

The laboratory activities will cover the following topics:

a) Sources of the company information system and company accounting: rules, criteria and practices;

b) Cost, internal transfer costs and prices: understand before speaking;

c) Agricultural production, even in its technical aspects, is the subject of a narrative aimed at citizens, consumers and even agricultural producers themselves, which does not always have an objective basis ("A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth” Daniel Kahneman, 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences). The students, also through a discussion platform, will be asked to analyse some of their own beliefs, news events, and legal provisions to understand their economic meaning and the implications for managing the agricultural business. Classroom discussions will follow.

Laboratory activities are an integral part of teaching, designed to reinforce your understanding of the topics covered in the classroom. Your active participation in these activities significantly contributes to your final evaluation.

Integrative digital teaching

Students undertaking the master's degree program may have different backgrounds. Past years' experience have highlighted, in particular, how not all students have a solid fundamental knowledge of i) the so-called Serpierian agricultural company budget scheme and ii) financial calculation.

Audiovisual material has been prepared to help students fill any gaps (i. and ii.), and some exercises and a self-assessment grid will be proposed (ii.).

Readings/Bibliography

Material is distributed or available via the Virtual platform. To access this material, you must complete the entry questionnaire available on the same platform.

For some topics, consulting the following books may be helpful:

Frascarelli M. (2021) The agricultural company, Edizioni Fag, Milan, chaps. 1-5.

Antoldi F. (2003) Knowing the company, McGaw-Hill, chap. 1.

Antoldi F. (2012) Economics and business organisation - Introduction to corporate governance 2/ed, McGaw-Hill, chaps. 2-4.

N.B. The editions indicated are the most recent at the time the publication of the program was completed. Students are encouraged to acquire the latter if more updated editions become available. In particular, about Antoldi (2012), it should be noted that the budget scheme to which chapter 2 refers has been superseded by the legislation currently in force. Updates are provided in class and through the material available on the Virtual platform.

Teaching methods

Active and continuous participation in lessons and exercises is not just encouraged, it's essential. It facilitates understanding of the content and makes the teaching more fluid. Occasional attendance is strongly discouraged. Your active involvement is key to your success in this course.

The course includes frequent and different ways of interaction between the teacher and the students and between the students themselves. You will need a smartphone to participate in surveys, quizzes, and more. For some exercises and if the computer room is not available, participation in the classroom will be required, with the availability of a laptop or tablet, on which it is possible to use a spreadsheet. This interactive approach fosters a sense of community and shared learning.

The integrative digital teaching activities previously described are exclusively aimed at filling any gaps in entry.

Assessment methods

Learning is verified through the final exam, which verifies acquiring the expected knowledge and skills through an oral test. The oral test may cover all the topics covered in the theoretical part of the course and may also include testing of the knowledge developed during the laboratory activities. The oral test will aim to verify the knowledge and skills achieved, the correctness of the vocabulary and the argumentative abilities. The test typically involves three or four questions of a general nature. The duration of the oral test is, on average, 30 minutes.

The final evaluation will be 90% based on the outcome of the final test and the remaining 10% on active participation in the course activities.

Teaching tools

Virtual Platform.

Discussion platform (punctual indications on Virtuale)

Computer laboratory (depending on the number of attendees and availability).

 

If you need any additional support or clarification, you can always write to the teacher or the course tutor and arrange a meeting. We are here to help you succeed in your studies.

Office hours

See the website of Aldo Bertazzoli