As a friend of mine put it, the shear breadth of knowledge you need to break even is astounding. Depending on scale and focus area, they'll include: * Accounti

As a friend of mine put it, the shear breadth of knowledge you need to break even is astounding. Depending on scale and focus area, they'll include: * Accounting (cost of production, allocating overhead expenses, cash flow analysis, financing terms and outcomes) * Efficiency calculations and cost benefit analysis for equipment comparison * Buying and selling commodities contracts * Marketing your product (locking in the price optimally) * Biology for dealing with animals and anything you plant * Ever changing government subsidies and regulations * Maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of equipment. This helps keep you productive when the weather is good and the vendor techs are busy. Welding is really handy. If you mess a couple of those up to a moderate degree, you'll probably lose gobs of money. Do it too bad or for too long and you'll be visiting my dad or brother for a bankruptcy.