Farmer, Rancher, and Other Agricultural Manager

Also called: Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), Agricultural Crop Farm Manager, Agriculture Manager, Animal Husbandry Manager, Annual Greenhouse Manager

Farmer, Rancher, and Other Agricultural Manager

Varies

estimated salary

Farm managers, Ranch managers, and Other Agricultural Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments.

Agriculture managers may hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the managed operation's day-to-day activities. They can engage in or supervise the planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities of the farm.

 

 

  • Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
  • Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
  • Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
  • Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
  • Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
  • Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
  • Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
  • Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.
  • Prepare reports required by state and federal laws.
  • Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work.
  • Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches.
  • Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities.
  • Direct the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle, poultry, or honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement.
  • Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock.
  • Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock.
  • Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production.
  • Provide information to customers on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns.
  • Analyze market conditions to determine acreage allocations.
  • Supervise the construction of farm or ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, drainage systems, wells, or roads.
  • Replace chemical insecticides with environmentally friendly practices, such as adding pest-repelling plants to fields.
  • Conduct inspections to determine crop maturity or condition or to detect disease or insect infestation.
  • Conduct or supervise stock examinations to identify diseases or parasites.
  • Determine types or quantities of crops, plants, or livestock to be grown and raised, based on budgets, federal incentives, market conditions, executive directives, projected sales volumes, or soil conditions.
  • Determine, administer, and execute policies relating to operations administration and standards, facility maintenance, and safety.
  • Direct crop production operations, such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting.
  • Evaluate marketing or sales alternatives for products.
  • Hire, supervise, and train support workers.
  • Monitor activities, such as irrigation, chemical application, harvesting, milking, breeding, and grading, to ensure adherence to safety regulations or standards.
  • Monitor environments to ensure maintenance of optimum animal or plant life.
  • Obtain financing for and purchase necessary machinery, land, supplies, or livestock.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work
  • Work With Work Group or Team
  • Contact With Others
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
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Work Activities
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Compile operational data.
  • Maintain operational records.
  • Manage agricultural or forestry operations.
  • Manage agricultural or forestry operations.
  • Manage agricultural or forestry operations.
  • Analyze financial records to improve budgeting or planning.
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Knowledge

Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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Skills

Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Custom Software Group CSG AgroSys Hot Technology
  • Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense Hot Technology
  • EZ-Ranch Hot Technology
  • Resource planning software Hot Technology
  • i.Agri LandMark Farm Hot Technology
  • Innovative Software Solutions Picas Hot Technology
  • Oracle NetSuite Hot Technology
  • SAP Hot Technology
  • International Response Technologies CowChip - Ranch House Hot Technology
  • Argos Software ABECAS Insight Hot Technology
  • Agevo Farm Manager Hot Technology
  • AgriSoft/CMC AgriSoft/ERP Hot Technology
  • Advanced Veterinary Services Ranch Vision Hot Technology
  • Brihzon Solutions SMART Dairy Resource Planning Hot Technology
  • Accutech Systems Corporation AccuFarm-MGR Hot Technology
  • CattleWorks Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Pear Technology Fieldman Farmer
  • SST Development Group Stratus
  • ProducePak Mobile Farm Management
  • TapLogic FarmLogic
  • Stenco Technologies Farm Trends
  • Trimble Farm Works
  • PigCHAMP Care 3000
  • Farm Files Crops
  • Cattlesoft CattleMax
  • Alua Software Paddock Pro
  • Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
  • Farm Business Software Systems Smart Feeder
  • Lion Edge Technologies Ranch Manager
  • KELTEC Systems HerdMaster
  • John Deere Apex Farm Management
  • AgTerra Technologies AgTrac
  • Hatchery database systems
  • Fish stocking databases
  • Farm Files Livestock
  • Ag Connections Land.db
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