Farm Management – Bachelor of Agribusiness

At Massey, many of our agribusiness students have jobs before they even graduate. Learn how to build and deliver profitable and sustainable businesses.

Where you can study

Distance and online
Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand
Note: Not all listed subject course options are on offer every year. Some distance courses contain compulsory contact workshops

Specialise in Farm Management for your Bachelor of Agribusiness at Massey

The Bachelor of Agribusiness (Farm Management) prepares you for the demands of the farming business. From strategic to organisational skills, you’ll learn how to build and deliver profitable businesses on a sustainable basis.

Become a multidisciplinary practitioner

You’ll be able to draw from business-related disciplines such as, industrial economics, marketing, supply chain management and finance.

You’ll also gain knowledge in:

  • natural sciences
  • environmental sciences
  • life sciences
  • food security and safety
  • primary production technologies
  • systems and biotechnology.

Put agribusiness into perspective

The discipline of farm management provides the ability to interpret and put into perspective issues affecting farm and agribusiness managers. It offers an understanding of how and why managers make decisions and what impact those decisions have on their business and the wider industry.

Practical experience while you study

Your learning will focus on real-world case studies and will include field trips to provide experiential learning – from talking to and observing farmers.

You’ll gain a huge amount of practical experience. This will include at least 26 weeks of paid employment undertaken in agriculture and related sectors.

A growing, innovative industry

New Zealand’s economy is dominated by agriculture and food. It generates tens of billions in export earnings a year and international demand is predicted to continue to grow.

Relevant international knowledge

Massey’s agribusiness qualification aligns itself with agribusiness industries throughout the world. This ensures you will have the skills and industry knowledge employers want.

A Bachelor of Agribusiness in Farm Management is a good fit if you:

  • would like to have a career associated with agriculture or horticulture
  • are interested in the business/commercial side of farming
  • would like to gain a broad range of skills in agribusiness.

Planning information

If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.

If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.

Capstone course

‘Capstone’ courses are designed to be taken in your last year of study. This relies on you having completed the correct first and second year courses and ties your learning together. The capstone course for this qualification is 119373 Integrative Studies.

Practical work requirement

There is a practical work requirement for this degree, consisting of at least 26 weeks full-time work. This is completed by submission of two reports for assessment. Practical work is normally done during summer vacations throughout the degree. Summer jobs are readily available on farms, orchards and other rural enterprises.

Course planning

Agriculture pathway

Year One

Two courses from:

115112 Accounting for Business
115113 Economics for Business
115114 Finance Fundamentals

And all of:

117153 Introduction to Animal Production in New Zealand
119120 Plants for Agriculture and Horticulture
119180 Introduction to Agribusiness
161140 Agri-Statistics
189151 Principles of Soil Science
247111 Science and Sustainability for Agriculture and Horticulture

Year Two

112248 Food and Agribusiness Value Chains
115211 Business Law
117201 Livestock Production Science
119150 Practicum I*
119281 Decision Tools for Primary Industries
189251 Soil Fertility and Fertilisers
283201 Pasture and Crop Agronomy

One course from:

115112 Accounting for Business
115113 Economics for Business
115114 Finance Fundamentals

One course from:

127242 Introduction to Property Valuation
138255 Applied Engineering in Agriculture and Horticulture Systems
152261 International Business

Year Three

119250 Practicum II*
119358 Farm Production Systems
119381 Decision-Making in Primary Industry
119382 Opportunity Analysis in Primary Industry
119373 Integrative Studies

And four elective courses (two courses must be 200-level or higher of which one course must be 300-level).

*26 weeks of relevant practical work (2 x 13 week blocks of full time work). Work to be completed the summer prior to writing the reports.

Horticulture Pathway

Year One

Two courses from:

115112 Accounting for Business
115113 Economics for Business
115114 Finance Fundamentals

And all of:

117153 Introduction to Animal Production in New Zealand
119180 Introduction to Agribusiness
161140 Agri-Statistics
119120 Plants for Agriculture and Horticulture
189151 Principles of Soil Science
247111 Science and Sustainability for Agriculture and Horticulture

Year Two

112248 Food and Agribusiness Value Chains
115211 Business Law
285201 Understanding Plant Protection
119150 Practicum I*
119281 Decision Tools for Primary Industries
189251 Soil Fertility and Fertilisers
284201 Horticultural Production Systems

One course from:

115112 Accounting for Business
115113 Economics of Business
115114 Finance Fundamentals

One course from:

119231 Agricultural and Horticultural Infrastructure
127242 Introduction to Property Valuation
138255 Applied Engineering in Agriculture and Horticulture Systems
152261 International Business

Year Three

119250 Practicum II*
119358 Farm Production Systems
119381 Decision-Making in Primary Industry
119382 Opportunity Analysis in Primary Industry
119373 Integrative Studies

And four elective courses (two courses must be 200-level or higher of which one course must be 300-level).

*26 weeks of relevant practical work (2 x 13 week blocks of full time work). Work to be completed the summer prior to writing the reports.

Minors

Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.

A minor must be in a different subject from your major.

A Bachelor of Agribusiness (Farm Management) with a minor

You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another undergraduate degree, the regulations of that qualification will apply.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Core courses for the Bachelor of Agribusiness

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Bachelor of Agribusiness core courses

Farm Management courses

Compulsory courses

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 119281 Decision Tools for Primary Industries 15 credits

Application of decision tools for farm systems analysis at the tactical level. Analytical frameworks to assist decision-making in finance, human resources, production and marketing.

Prerequisites: 119180 or 117155

View full course details
Course code: 119358 Farm Production Systems 15 credits

An interdisciplinary study of farm systems. Case studies are used to integrate students’ knowledge of the whole farm system, to identify strategic choices and evaluate these choices relative to the current farm system.

Prerequisites: 119381

View full course details
Course code: 119381 Decision-Making in Primary Industry 15 credits

A practical approach to the management of strategy, finance and tactics in primary industry. An exploration, through in-field case studies and business analysis, of planning under uncertainty.

Prerequisites: 119281

View full course details
Course code: 119382 Opportunity Analysis in Primary Industry 15 credits

An in-depth study of opportunities for agricultural/horticultural investments. An exploration, through in-field case studies, of alternative pathways to ownership, on-farm investment analysis and farm borrowing and lending. Relevant legislation affecting agricultural and horticultural businesses.

Prerequisites: 119381

View full course details
Course code: 161140 Agri-Statistics 15 credits

An introduction to statistics in an agricultural context, including the presentation, analysis and interpretation of quantitative data.

Restrictions: 161100, 161101, 161111, 161120, 161122, 161130, 115101, 195101, 297101

View full course details
Course code: 189151 Principles of Soil Science 15 credits

An integrated introductory course in soil science. An exploration of the interaction between soil and the environment, soil formation and morphology, soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and their influence on soil management, nutrient cycling, and soil-plant interactions.

Prerequisites: 247111 or 247113

View full course details
Course code: 189251 Soil Fertility Management 15 credits

This course examines the influence of soil factors on plant nutrient cycling in agricultural production systems. The composition, properties and uses of fertilisers to improve soil fertility and the associated environmental issues arising from soil water relationships and interactions with plant nutrients. Methods for measuring nutrient levels in soils will also be covered.

Prerequisites: 189151

View full course details
Course code: 247111 Science and Sustainability for Agriculture and Horticulture 15 credits

The pursuit of environmental sustainability is a complex societal issue. This is a problem-based course, where students will develop their critical thinking, communication and information literacy and management skills as they evaluate interdisciplinary approaches to the contemporary sustainability challenge of climate action. Students will explore the intersection of science and community through exemplars of partnership between research and Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) in the context of primary production in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Restrictions: 247177, 141111, 141112, 228111, 228112, 247155, 119155, 246102, 247112, 247113, 247114

View full course details
Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 119231 Agricultural and Horticultural Infrastructure 15 credits

Overview of agricultural and horticultural properties detailing the structures, electricity supply, water systems, site layout and wastewater management.

Restrictions: 138382, 218274, 138331

View full course details
Course code: 127242 Introduction to Property Valuation 15 credits

An introduction to the principles and methods of property valuation.

Restrictions: 127255

View full course details
Course code: 138255 Applied Engineering in Agriculture and Horticulture Systems 15 credits

Engineering principles underpinning the systems used in the growing, harvest and post-harvest treatment of agricultural and horticultural products. Emphasis is placed on deriving the system performance specification following consideration of capacity, product quality and safety, and ecological requirements.

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Course code: 152261 International Business 15 credits

A study of business and management from an international perspective. This course provides an introduction to the conduct of business in the global environment by exploring different forms of international business activity in the context of regionalism and globalism.

View full course details
Course code: 235312 Case Studies in Māori Agribusiness 15 credits

This course explores Māori agribusiness through a series of case studies in the field with an emphasis on the temporal understanding of Māori agribusiness. Each case study has an emphasis on analysis and decision making and is applied to a range of Māori agribusinesses.

Prerequisites: 119180

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Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 117201 Livestock Production Science 15 credits

Developing understanding of the important drivers underpinning New Zealand’s livestock and companion animal industries and how these can be altered to achieve the desired outcomes. Knowledge will be gained on the major animal welfare and environmental issues facing New Zealand agriculture and how these might be mitigated against.

Prerequisites: One of 117152, 117153, 117155, 194101, 199101, or 199103

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Course code: 285201 Understanding Plant Protection 15 credits

The importance of diseases, pests and weeds to horticultural, agricultural and forestry production, trade, gardening and conservation is outlined. The course introduces the biology of these organisms and gives an understanding of their management and control. An introduction to strategies available for chemical, non-chemical and integrated control methods is included together with examples. A course of practical work.

Prerequisites: 119120 or 120101 or 283101 or 284101 Restrictions: 171284

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Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 283201 Pasture and Crop Agronomy 15 credits

The husbandry of agricultural plants and the management of plant communities at the farm level. Topics include balancing pasture growth and animal demand, pasture assessment, pasture establishment, cash crops, growth and utilisation of forage crops and control of weeds and pests.

Prerequisites: 283101 or 120101 or 119120 Restrictions: 171202

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Course code: 284201 Horticultural Production Systems 15 credits

An interdisciplinary study of the major vegetable and fruit production systems in NZ, and overseas. Different systems and subsystems will be analysed using indicators including productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability.

Prerequisites: 119120 or 284101

View full course details

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

The Bachelor of Agribusiness (Farm Management) will prepare you for agribusiness careers anywhere in the world.

Potential careers are in:

  • management of agricultural and horticultural businesses
  • farm consultancy
  • farm extension
  • rural banking and insurance
  • regional/national government
  • farm input suppliers
  • processors and exporters.

You can use the critical skills you gain through this qualification to take on a wide variety of careers. You could become a supplier of milk products to the world through Fonterra. You could grow kiwifruit for Zespri to market or produce superfine wool. You could also be a farm or horticultural consultant. Or you could become an agent with Beef+LambNZ or DairyNZ helping farmers to better understand agribusiness.

Your understanding of farmers and farming systems will be invaluable to firms selling products and services to farmers and those purchasing product from farmers. So you could be working as a rural banker, a procurement agent or for a regional council.

International students

New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.

Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.

As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.

What our students say

“My three years at Massey were great! I gained knowledge across a wide range of subjects and farming systems and I got to work with real farmers and their businesses.”
Hannah Wallace

Tainui

Bachelor of Agricommerce (Farm Management)

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Agriculture and Forestry

Massey is world-ranked and New Zealand’s No 1 university in agriculture according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings.

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QS Ranking - Business Management Studies

Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 350 universities for business and management.

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ShanghaiRanking - agricultural science

Massey University is ranked No.1 in New Zealand for agricultural science by ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

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