Land Water and Food Economy 1

Subject AGRI10043 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 48 hours contact. 2 lectures and 2 hours tutorials/practical classes per week
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Recommended Background Knowledge: N/A
Non Allowed Subjects: N/A
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Bill Malcolm

Contact

Email: b.malcolm@unimelb.edu.au

Phone: 8344 5015

Subject Overview:

Land and Food Economy I is an introduction to applying principles of agricultural and resource economics to understanding the use of land and water resources to produce agricultural products.

Agribusiness and Resource Economics is an introduction to the discipline areas of agribusiness economics and resource economics. Content will include the concepts of markets, competition and efficiency, theory of the firm, market failure, agricultural supply and production economic analysis of input use, agricultural demand, international trade. Applications: Applications of principles of agricultural and resource economics and to using land and water in agricultural production systems, applications of principles of agricultural economics to pricing and marketing of food. Agribusiness Management will include financial analysis of agricultural businesses operations, activity planning and investment decisions, risk in agricultural production. Field trips and case studies will be used.
Objectives:

On completion of this subject, students will have gained:

  • understanding of the neoclassical economic way of thinking about production and consumption decisions.
  • knowledge of the technical, economic and risk challenges associated with using natural resources to produce food and fibre
  • the ability to analyse the operation of farm businesses in terms of their resource requirements and usage, enterprise choices and management, and their profitability;
Assessment:
  • A short Test worth 10% week 4
  • Short Test worth 15% week 8
  • A 2000 word (equivalent) case study report worth 15% due week 12
  • A final 2 hour exam worth 60% of final mark
Prescribed Texts:

Gans, J., King, S. and Mankiw, G. (2006) Principles of Microeconomics. Thomson.

Malcolm., et. al, (2009) Agriculture in Australia. Cambridge University Press
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Students will learn to apply economic ways of thinking to questions about using land and water and the production and marketing of food.
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Agriculture

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