
Agricultural Business Fundamentals
Pathway Certificate
12 Credits | 1 Year part time
Ashland*, New Richmond*, Rice Lake*
Outreach Center: Balsam Lake*
*Combination of Hybrid and On Site instruction
Career Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Understanding where you are financially is the first step in making plans for the future. This certificate is all about creating financial statements, understanding them and figuring out ways to mitigate risk, diversify income streams and find bottlenecks.
Program Overview
The business side of the farm operation is often times the most critical part of any farm regardless of focus. In this pathway certificate, you will learn what financial records to keep, how to market commodities, analyze financial benchmarks and assess new technology.
Program Outcomes
The Agricultural Business Fundamentals Certificate will prepare students to:
- Plan for operation and maintenance of farm facilities and equipment
- Create farm business plans
- Apply marketing principles to agricultural enterprises

As a student in this program, you will learn how to contribute to the farm in a profitable and sustainable manner.

Practical, on-farm application.

A sharing environment.

Flexible scheduling.
Academics
Agricultural Business Fundamental courses are offered in person in Rice Lake and available through Your Choice at Ashland, Balsam Lake and New Richmond.
- Evening course will be available for individuals needing to complete continuing education requirements for FSA loans.
- Labs will be on Fridays at either the WITC - Rice Lake campus or On-Farm (at regional farms or test plots).
Career Pathways
This pathway certificate will ladder into the Farm Operation technical diploma.
Practical & Applicable Lessons
The lessons of this program are designed to be applied directly to the production agricultural operation. The intent of each lesson is to either improve quality of life, strengthen farm profitability and streamline management.
Experienced Instructor
The instructor has a background in production agriculture and has tacit knowledge to sort through university and industry recommendations with competency and awareness of day-to-day farm activities.
Curriculum
Agricultural Business Fundamentals specifically covers: Farm Commodities, Emerging Trends in Agriculture, Farm Records and Analysis and Operating the Farm Business.
Featured Agricultural Business Fundamental Courses
Agricultural Business Fundamentals is Part of a Career Pathway
As an Agricultural Business Fundamentals student at WITC, you can earn credentials each step of the way!
You could take this first and get a credential.
Advance your skills to obtain a one-year technical diploma.
Obtain a bachelor's degree through WITC's transfer opportunities.
Farm Operation - Transfer Options
Admissions and Tuition
WITC has a simple admission process for this program that can be completed in one step: simply fill out an application form. That's it!
Tuition and Fees
WITC breaks down the cost of education, so you'll have a good idea of how much your education will cost.
Estimated Total Program Costs 2020-21*
Agricultural Business Fundamentals
12 Credits | Less than 1 Year
$1,894
*Tuition is an estimate and does not include any miscellaneous fees for various courses, tools, books, supplies or uniforms. Program book costs are in addition to tuition and fees and vary depending on course selection and where the books are purchased or rented.
After the WITC Agricultural Business Fundamentals Program
Upon completion of the program, you will obtain an Agricultural Business Fundamentals technical diploma.

Transfer Options
Transfer your WITC credits to a four-year college in Wisconsin to obtain your bachelor's degree and beyond.
Career Outlooks
WITC's graduates experience success. Learn more about the types of careers you can get after graduation.
