793-228 Agricultural Economics and Marketing

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to enable student to:

• understand and analyse issues relating to agricultural economics and policy;

• develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of marketing, develop effective marketing systems for new products and describe the marketing systems currently employed for major agricultural products.

The content includes: The role of agriculture in the Australian economy; economic forces affecting farmers - effects of domestic Government policy, effects of Government policy in overseas countries, causes of income variability and farmer responses, causes of the cost prices squeeze and farmer responses; the operation of farmer organisations in establishing and influencing policy. Marketing fundamentals/concepts; key marketing strategies (segmentation and marketing mix); planned marketing programs for agricultural products; role of information (producers and consumers); direct supply marketing; marketing agricultural products overseas; grower marketing (issues and options); alternative marketing systems - video and catalogue sales, etc. Government involvement in the marketing process.

Assessment

Two 2000 word assignments; two hour test.

Prescribed Texts

• Campbell and Fisher, Agricultural Marketing and Prices. Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.
• McColl-Kennedy et al, Marketing Concepts & Strategies. Nelson, Melbourne.