|
- Production Practices
- Client Goals and Strategic Plan
- Professionalism
- Principles of Leasing
- Property Risk Assessment
- Conservation Practices
- Agents, Brokers, Consultants
- Listening Skills
- Body Language
- Selling Skills
- Oral Presentations
- Commodity Market Planning
- Crop Insurance
- New Site
- Project Management
- Effective Negotiating
- Customer Service
- Conflict Resolution
- Business Structures
- Analyzing Investments
- Financial Statements
- Financial Ratios
- Consulting Standards
- Functions of the Dollar
- Understanding Appraisals
- Practice Management
- Case Studies
- The Farm Plan
- Business Writing
- Report Writing
- Business Proposals
- Document Control
- Agricultural Tax Guide
- Using the Futures Market
- Expert Testimony
- Business Contracts
- Review for Exam
Don't see the class you're looking for? Provide us with your ideas for new classes
ASFMRA develops all its courses and seminars based on the needs of our members so we are always looking for input from our members on what those needs are. If you have an idea for a class or input on our education offerings of another kind, please tell us. Click here to send us an e-mail about what you'd like to see.
<Back to Top>
Ag Land Management, Part I
Modules:
1002 Production Practices
This course prepares the manager and consultant to discuss various commodity production practices with a solid understanding of production systems. Learn about:
- Traditional crop farms
- Integrated livestock enterprises
- Conservation tillage practices
- Different niche markets
- Bio-energy as a subsidiary income for landowners
1003 Client Goals and Strategic Plan
The manager and consultant will develop fact-finding skills and learn how to organize facts into a functional operations plan designed to meet each client’s goals. Learn to:
- Fully understand the capacity of client(s)
- Establish client mission and vision
- Set up plans for accomplishing client goals
- Document and record all appropriate details
- Measure and monitor progress
- Review and reevaluate at least annually
1004 Professionalism
The manager and consultant will be equipped with the tools needed to present a professional image and maintain proper conduct while serving their clients. Improve:
- Developing a professional image
- Maintaining professional conduct
- Putting your clients in the forefront
- Dealing with difficult situations
1005 Principles of Leasing
This course provides the manager and consultant with the various options for property leases and the skills to achieve that optimal owner/tenant relationship. Discuss how to:
- Create a lease that meets the goals of the stakeholders
- Understand the legal requirements of a lease
- Review current federal and state tax requirements
1006 Property Risk Assessment
The manager and consultant will learn of the potential risks on clients’ properties and how to identify them. Be equipped to:
- Determine who does the risk assessments
- Study sites with maps and aerial photos
- Make checklists of items to observe and verify
- Evaluate a site for risks
- Document and report the findings
1007 Conservation Practices
The manager and consultant will learn the various conservation programs and practices, and understand the different management responsibilities associated with them. Be prepared to:
- Know which conservation practices are good for the environment
- Understand cost sharing and the cost of maintenance
- Review and report requirements
1009 Agents, Brokers and Consultants
This course informs the manager and consultant about the potential roles he/she may be called on to fill and the responsibilities of each. Students will learn to:
- Understand who the client is
- Define expectations and avoid overpromising
- Be responsible to the client
- Perform due diligence with new or unusual clients and projects
- Set up a fair payment system
1011 Listening Skills
Necessary in any situation, the manager and consultant will develop optimal listening skills to better serve their clients’ needs.
- Listen with all the senses
- Manage reactions
- Respond responsibly
- Give the gift of listening
- Speak to promote listening
1012 Body Language
The manager and consultant will increase his/her awareness of the effects of body language. This course prepares for client interaction experiences:
- How body language tells it all
- How to appeal to an audience in a positive way
- How to detect when you are being listened to
- How to influence what clients remember by what is seen more than what is said and heard
1013 Selling Skills
Customer service is a distinct competitive advantage. This course is for any professional wanting to better provide and promote excellence in customer satisfaction. The student will learn:
- What good customer service is and why it matters
- How to instill the “Golden Rule” for employees
- How to empower front-line staff
- How to hire service-orientated people
1014 Oral Presentations
The manager and consultant will practice the skills to prepare, deliver, and relate to an audience when presenting an oral presentation. Activities include:
- The steps to prepare, prepare, prepare
- Learning and really knowing the material
- Respecting the audience
- Using appropriate visual aids
- Being courteous to the media
1019 Commodity Market Planning
The basics of commodity marketing are covered. The manager and consultant will gain the tools to optimize a marketing plan:
- Studying market behavior
- Understanding market tools
- Making a written marketing plan
- Protecting financial needs
1021 Crop Insurance
The manager and consultant will understand the variety of crop insurance options and protection coverage of the different instruments.
- Why high input costs make insurance protection essential
- The many and ever changing options
- How to use a professional advisor
- Options based on risk reward
<Back to Top>
Ag Land Management, Part 2
Modules:
1001 Locating and Characterizing Property
Location, location, location. The manager and consultant will explore the tools available to locate and evaluate a new site or project location.
- Locate sites with maps and aerial photos
- Determine who owns what
- Identify the resources
- Evaluate the resource risks
- Visit the site
- Document and report the findings
1008 Project Management
Effective project management is critical for today’s manager and consultant. This course provides the manager and consultant with the tools to identify project objectives and evaluate who the stakeholders are and how each should be involved in a project. Detailed steps are presented relative to preparing, monitoring, communicating and reporting project activities. Students will learn how to:
- Determine the goals for a project
- Make thorough preparation
- Monitor project activities
- Communicate with stakeholders
- Prepare accurate reports
1010 Effective Negotiating
Negotiation is largely a perfected skill. The manager and consultant will learn how to optimize the negotiating process. Students will learn how to arrive at a fair deal:
Knowing what is desired and getting the facts
- Being prepared
- Taking the necessary time
- Learning to avoid being swayed by emotional games
- Taking as well as giving
- Controlling the EGO
1015 Customer Service
This course builds on customer service training. Excellence in customer satisfaction is studied through:
- How good customer service matters
- How employees treat clients as they are treated
- How the person who answers the door or phone rules the company
- How to hire service-orientated people
1016 Conflict Resolution
Successful conflict resolution – and avoidance – is beneficial in business. The manager and consultant will learn how to identify potential conflicts and how to avert and resolve them responsibly.
- Identify potential conflicts
- Build character through conflict resolution
- Treat others with respect
- Seek and strive for the greater good
1018 Business Structures
This course provides specific information for the manager and consultant working with different business entities. Information covered includes:
- How ownership structures allow for business operations
- Orderly transfer of ownership
- Tax management
- Situations for consultation with attorneys or tax planning advisors
1023 Analyzing Investments
The manager and consultant will gain the tools to understand the value of investments. Students will learn how to evaluate financial performance and set financial measures and targets.
- Learn where and how to get good information
- Use several methods to analyze
- Create a comparative budget
1024 Financial Statements
Financial statements can be confusing and ambiguous. The manager and consultant will learn to understand the mechanics of financial statements, and how to evaluate and apply them. Get the skills to:
- Use financial statements as management tools
- Be accurate with valuations
- Update reports at least annually
1025 Financial Ratios
This course builds on financial statements and provides the manager and consultant with the tools to understand financial ratios. The student will be able to evaluate financial ratios and understand their significance.
- Use financial ratios as management tools
- Be as accurate with valuations
- Update reports at least annually
1031 Consulting Standards
The ASFMRA holds high standards for its members. The manager and consultant will reinforce his/her professional consulting standards in order to promote a high level of ethics and professionalism. Discussion includes:
- Committing to high standards
- Never overstating personal abilities
- Providing full disclosure
- The Golden Rule
1032 Functions of the Dollar
The manager and consultant will gain the knowledge on how to make informed decisions on the optimization of investing and borrowing money.
- Appreciating the value of money
- Discovering how to research options before making investments
- Borrowing capital wisely
- Comparing projects and evaluating profits
1033 Understanding Appraisals
Appraisal reports are widely used with managers and consultants alike. The methods to understand appraisal reports and using the information will include:
- Appraisals prepared for specific uses
- Appraisals in determined formats
- Appraisals as opinions based on determined facts
1034 Practice Management
A successful business is cornerstone to the manager and consultant. This course prepares the student on how to operate a business efficiently and effectively.
- Evaluating the efficiency of the business
- Identifying the processes a business performs
- Defining where profit is generated
- Evaluating clients’ potential margins of profit
- Knowing when to change/ abandon a profit-losing process
1035 Case Studies
A hands-on course for the manager and consultant to interact with practical examples for maximizing profitability and evaluating opportunities.
- Evaluate profitability of production choices
- Determine material participation
- Calculate breakeven
1036 The Farm Plan
The manager and consultant will practice a step-by-step method to create a farm plan and evaluate the available resources.
- Obtain and organize the facts of the operation
- Understand budgets and marketing plans
- Define the roles and responsibilities of all parties
<Back to Top>
Ag Land Management, Part 3
Modules:
1027 Business Writing
Solid writing can be a struggle without the right tools. This course provides the manager and consultant with methods to identify the reader audience and present information in the most effective way.
- Characterize an audience
- Organize the material
- Be concise and understandable
- Proofread to perfection
- Use the best format
1028 Report Writing
Accurate report writing is critical in farm management and consulting. Learn to write professional, accurate reports:
- Make reports professional
- Be mindful of your reader
- Present information accurately
- Write succinctly and completely
- Use charts and graphs effectively
1029 Business Proposals
Proposals are often the key to winning new business. Learn to use proposals effectively:
Be specific with proposal objectives
- Write accurately when describing deliverables
- Prepare an organized and winning proposal
1030 Document Control
Document management is becoming more critical in today’s business environment. The manager and consultant will take away an understanding of the value of document control. The student will learn how to set up and maintain a document control system and be alert to data security issues.
- Implementation of appropriate controls to assure current documents are used
- Monitor control’s effectiveness
- How to identify current documents
<Back to Top>
Ag Land Management, Part 4
Modules:
1017 Agricultural Tax Guide
With the many tax changes each year, this course provides the manager and consultant with knowledge of tax implications of agriculture and the information needed to optimize tax positions.
- How to use the IRS web site
- What recordkeeping information is important
- Guidelines for tax deductions
1020 Using the Futures Market
The futures market is not for everyone. But this course provides an overview for the manager and consultant to better understand the function and usefulness of the futures market.
- Studying market behavior
- Understanding market trend analysis
- Using history as a good predictor of market movement
- When to seek professional advice
1022 Expert Testimony
This useful course provides practical information for the manager and consultant called to give expert testimony.
- How to be prepared
- Speaking the truth
- Making sure the body and mouth tell the same story
- Remaining cool and calm
1026 Business Contracts
This course provides immediately useful information. The manager and consultant will take away a guide on how to prepare and submit a winning contract for goods and services.
- Contract organization
- The elements of a contract
<Back to Top>
|
