James C. Cothern

Quickbooks® tutorial offered!

Agricultural economics professor James Cothern has developed a set of slides and accompanying data files that can assist a beginning user in learning Quickbooks® for agricultural record keeping purposes.

Quickbooks® is a computerized accounting and record keeping system designed for small to medium-sized farming operations. The slides and data files, which include a self-paced tutorial, can be downloaded from the website, titled Quickbooks® in California Agriculture.

- Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, Montana State University, 1968
- M.S. Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University, 1958
- B.S. Agricultural Economics, University of Idaho, 1956

- Professor of Agricultural Economics, California State University, Fresno, 1989 to present

- Teaching emphasis: Computers in Agriculture; Introduction to Agricultural Marketing

- Visiting Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics, California State University, Fresno, 1987-88

- Member, Council of Economic Advisors, American National Cattlemen's Association, 1977-1982

- Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics, UC Davis, 1972-1989 Teaching emphasis: Introduction to Agricultural Marketing Management and Agricultural Marketing.

- Associate, University of California Experiment Station, 1972-89 Teaching emphasis: Introduction to dBase II

- Campus Coordinator (UCD), California Agricultural Leadership Program, 1973-74

- Economist, Giannini Foundation, University of California, 1972-1989

- Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics Cooperative Extension Service, Montana State University, 1967-72

- Teaching emphasis: Computerized Management Games and Economics of Agricultural Marketing

-- Dates are approximate, consultations involved specific tasks including research and/or teaching or both:

- Department of Food and Agriculture, Federal-State Market News Service, 1977-93

- University of California, Davis, 1992

- California Grain and Feed Association, 1992

- California Department of Forestry, 1986-1988

- California Department of Finance, 1986

- Santa Rosa Production Credit Association, 1983-85

- California Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, 1983-

- University of California-Egypt Project, 1983-84

- Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, 1980-82

- Agricultural Department, Province of Alberta, Canada

- Justice Department, 1979-90

- California Department of Water Resources, 1979-80

- Packer's and Stockyards Administration, 1979-80

- California Soil Conservation Service, 1979-80

- California State Senate Sub-Committee on Agriculture, 1977-80

- House Small Business Committee, Washington, 1977

- Department of Food and Agriculture, Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, 1977-80

- California Bankers' Association, 1974-75

- Regional Administrator of the National Bank, Comptroller of the Currency, 14th National Bank Region, 1974-75

- California Cattlemens' Association, 1972-

- California Woolgrowers' Association, 1972-

- California Pork Producers' Association, 1972-82

- Montana Farm Bureau Federation, 1967-72

- Montana Stockgrower's Association, 1967-72

- Montana Banker's Association, 1967-82

- Grain Terminal Association, 1967-72

- Served as a member of Cooperative Extension Service, Montana State University, 1967 72 as Economist, Cooperative Extension Service with a major emphasis in livestock marketing, managerial economics and general economic feasibility analysis. Major extension effort in developing and implementing an educational program in economics and financial analyses of livestock, grain and forage industries. Also completed industry feasibility analyses for seed marketing, poultry and egg processing, nursery stock production and safflower oil processing

- Employed by California Cooperative Extension Service, June, 1972 to develop programs in livestock, feedgrains and forage marketing, including economic and financial analysis. Developed guideline series in Economics of Livestock Industry in California, Author of Turbo Farm, a farm record keeping system

- Served as a member of a UC-Egypt team commissioned to develop an improved data base for Egyptian poultry and livestock. Worked in Egypt and developed a publication used by the Egyptian government as a guide for statistical methodology and use in developing internal market for Egyptian beef and poultry products

- Served as a member of a U.S.-Canadian team commissioned to evaluate the province of Alberta's beef market potential in California. Involved beef market analysis in various California cities, including firm surveys and interviews in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other interior cities, as well as a similar assessment in Alberta

- Served as a member of a U.S.-Canadian team commissioned to evaluate the province of Alberta's pork market potential in California. Involved pork market interview and analysis and the development of computer models for pork processing, transportation and distribution in various foreign markets.

- Developed an evaluation of the impact of the dairy liquidation program on the California beef industry.

- Lead a team of 20 professionals charged with the task of developing computerized financial, analytical and general decision making aids for micro computers and with assisting farmers, ranchers and orchardists in developing or maintaining profitable farm operations. Completed marketing feasibility analysis, including feasibility of potato processing facility in Northern California. Operated a computerized electronic bulletin board on-call 24 hours per day as a central clearing house for that information, 1985-87

- Manages an electronic bulletin board service, AG-BBS, which is on-line 24 hours daily. This service provides up-to-date public domain computer programs in the MS-DOS environment; market information, agricultural data bases and analytical packages in the areas of economics and finance are also maintained and updated.

- Author of numerous articles, bulletins and papers concerning commercial agriculture, agricultural and economic policy and computer technology.

- Joined CSU-Fresno Department of Agricultural Economics in February 1989, charged with the responsibility of developing joint research education programs in areas of farm finance, public policy and computer technology

- Member, CSU-Fresno, Academic Computer Planning Committee, 1992-

- Member, School of Agr. Science and Technology, Research Advisory Committee, 1991-

- Chairman, Board of Education, Davis Joint Unified School District, 1979-80

- Chairman, College of Agriculture Research Advisory Committee, Montana State University, 1971-72

- Member, Inter-Unit Faculty Committee, Montana State University System, 1972

- Chairman, Western Extension Marketing Committee, 1972-73

- Chairman, Western Livestock Marketing Information Project, 1974-76

- Member, Cooperative Extension Computer Needs Committee, University of California, 1979

- Member, Giannini Foundation Research Advisory Committee, 1984-85

- Member, Board of Education, Davis Joint Unified School District, 1977-81

- Member, Editorial Council, Western Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1984-

- Member, American Agricultural Economics Association

- Member, Western Agricultural Economics Association

- Good Morning America, 1976

- KOVR, 1983

- KCRA TV 1983-85

- Adam Smith's Money World, KVIE, 1985

- Tom Sullivan's Money Matters, KVIE, 1985

- KSCH TV 1986

- Nightly Business Report, July 28, 1989

- Newsweek Magazine, 1985

- Author, Montana Farmer-Stockman, 1967-72

- Author, California-Arizona Farm Press, 1979-85

- Author, Calf News, 1974-79

- Author, Beef, 1982

- Author, Doanes, 1989-91

- Co-owner and operator of diversified row-crop farming-cattle operation Magic Valley (Buhl), Southern Idaho, 1957-65

- Co-owner and operator of rental-housing business, Davis-Sacramento, 1980-

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