What does a Farmer do?
Farmers use agricultural land and equipment to grow food and other crops, manage animal populations and perform a wide diversity of general farm labor tasks. Their duties include planting and harvesting, managing permanent and seasonal workers and successfully bringing row crops from planting to harvest. Some farmers work for agricultural businesses as traditional employees, while others own their land and work independently. Others have a binding contract arrangement with a distribution network that plays a role in managing the farm’s policies.
Farmer skills and qualifications
A successful farmer comes to the job with an extremely broad range of skills and qualifications. These include:
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Solid time management skills and a strong work ethic
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Good personnel management skills
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Detail-oriented planning ability
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In-depth knowledge about plants and animals, as well as the relevant laws governing their management
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Effective leadership skills, including seasonal hiring and layoffs
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Mechanical and technical aptitude for servicing and quickly repairing complex farm equipment
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Business management skills that include farm-specific financing and generating long-term budget projections
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The physical ability to perform demanding farm chores with reasonable accommodations
Farmer experience requirements
Farmers frequently start their careers as agricultural laborers working under the supervision of a farm manager. They may rise from that point, or they can work through school to get the training to become a beginning farmer. At high levels, farmers can work as farm managers, purchasing agents or even heavy vehicle mechanics.
Farmer education and training requirements
Some modern farmers earn a bachelor’s degree in agriculture or a related field. It’s also common for experienced farmers to earn graduate degrees in the field or obtain a second degree in business management or another professional field. Farmers can earn an OSHA Safety Certificate or Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) certification, among many other credentials.
Farmer salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a farmer is $16.78 per hour. This varies, depending on the type of farming and the geographic area where the farm is located.
Job description samples for similar positions
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Farmer job description FAQs
Where do farmers work?
Farmers work mainly on open agricultural land. Most of these sites are situated on level ground in well-watered territory, but some farms are in hill country. Some farm work is done in warehouses, auction sites or other farm industry locations. Farmers may work outdoors or inside, in all kinds of weather, throughout the season.
Do farmers work long hours?
Farmers frequently work long hours. Due to the variable and hard-to-control nature of farm produce, many farm workers start as early as dawn and continue working until dusk or even later. Farm work is highly seasonal, with long slack times during the growing and fallow seasons, punctuated by very intensive work during planting and harvest seasons.
Who do farmers work with?
Small farmers sometimes work alone or with family members. Larger operations often keep a staff of permanent and seasonal labor, especially around harvest time. They often work with other farmers, mechanics, vendors and purchasing agents. From time to time, independent farmers may work with bank representatives, lawyers and accountants to manage farm finances.
Do farmers have supervisors?
Independent and family farmers typically work without supervision. Contract farmers belong to larger networks and may have a district manager who provides loose guidance. Some farmers work directly under the supervision of a farm manager.
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