The interval between the first and second editions of this book have witnessed significant changes for the food producers of the EEC. They have moved from a period of increasing production to an era of food surpluses and statutory reductions in production. This overall change in the fortunes of agriculture have greatly increased the need for sound business management. This book has been substantially updated to include all the current factors that have to be taken into consideration by farmers, as well as still providing a basic introduction to the study of farm management for students. It should prove invaluable reading to those running farms, whether experienced or inexperienced.

Designed to teach the farm managers of tomorrow, Farm Management emphasizes the strategic and operations aspects of managing a farm. Today’s farm managers will want to consult it as well to improve the effectiveness, objectivity, and success of their decisions. This innovative textbook is framed by the increasing need for farmers to develop and follow a business plan. Topics not found in traditional farm management texts include: Strategic management; How to evaluate, choose, and implement the business strategies that best fit the farm and the farmer; Production and operations planning; How to benefit from techniques and management tools used in general business; Quality management and control that will decrease costs and meet consumer demands; Production contract evaluation; Decision making beyond the traditional microeconomic analysis: decision making under risk and the development of scenarios to understand the impact of an uncertain future. Fundamental farm management topics and basics are not ignored in this all-inclusive text. Traditional material includes budgeting, marketing, enterprise selection, production planning, financial analysis, financial management, investment analysis, risk management, work force management, business organization, and control management. Student learning will be enhanced by review questions and a glossary in the book. Other ancillary material: study notes, virtual field trips, a test bank, class assignments, instructions on how to produce local examples to complement the examples in the text, and worksheets for students are available on the author’s website or on a CD-ROM.

The small farm setting. Definition of farm management research. Conduct of farm management research. The need for farm management research on small farms. Approaches to farm management research on small farms. Role of farm management research techniques...

A practical, systems-based approach for a more sustainable farming operation To many people today, using the words "factory" and "farm" in the same sentence is nothing short of sacrilege. In many cases, though, the same sound business practices apply whether you are producing cars or carrots. Author Ben Hartman and other young farmers are increasingly finding that incorporating the best new ideas from business into their farming can drastically cut their wastes and increase their profits, making their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable. By explaining the lean system for identifying and eliminating waste and introducing efficiency in every aspect of the farm operation, The Lean Farm makes the case that small-scale farming can be an attractive career option for young people who are interested in growing food for their community. Working smarter, not harder, also prevents the kind of burnout that start-up farmers often encounter in the face of long, hard, backbreaking labor. Lean principles grew out of the Japanese automotive industry, but they are now being followed on progressive farms around the world. Using examples from his own family's one-acre community-supported farm in Indiana, Hartman clearly instructs other small farmers in how to incorporate lean practices in each step of their production chain, from starting a farm and harvesting crops to training employees and selling goods. While the intended audience for this book is small-scale farmers who are part of the growing local food movement, Hartman's prescriptions for high-value, low-cost production apply to farms and businesses of almost any size or scale that hope to harness the power of lean in their production processes.