Occupation

Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

Human Advantage 73%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.4 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.

Also Known As: Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), Agricultural Crop Farm Manager, Agricultural Manager, Agriculture Farmer, Agriculture Manager, Agronomy Manager, Agronomy Operations Manager, Animal Husbandry Manager +63 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
  2. Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
  3. Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
  4. Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
  5. Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
  6. Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
  7. Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
  8. Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.
  9. Prepare reports required by state and federal laws.
  10. Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work.
  11. Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches.
  12. Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities.
  13. Direct the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle, poultry, or honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement.
  14. Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock.
  15. Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock.
  16. Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production.
  17. Provide information to customers on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns.
  18. Analyze market conditions to determine acreage allocations.
  19. Supervise the construction of farm or ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, drainage systems, wells, or roads.

Supplemental Tasks (1)

  1. Replace chemical insecticides with environmentally friendly practices, such as adding pest-repelling plants to fields.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

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  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (77)

  • AGCO Advanced Technology Solutions Fieldstar
  • Accutech Systems Corporation AccuFarm-MGR
  • Advanced Veterinary Services Ranch Vision
  • Ag Connections Land.db
  • Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
  • AgData Blue Skies Accounting
  • AgTerra Technologies AgTrac
  • Agevo Farm Manager
  • AgriSoft/CMC AgriSoft/ERP
  • Alua Software Paddock Pro
  • AquaSoft Farm Manager
  • Argos Software ABECAS Insight
  • Brihzon Solutions SMART Dairy Resource Planning
  • CDA International Manifold System
  • CattleWorks
  • Cattlesoft CattleMax
  • Countryside Data Ag Payroll
  • Custom Software Group CSG AgroSys
  • DIVA-GIS
  • Datatech The Farmer's Office
  • Delta Data Systems AGIS
  • ESRI ArcPad
  • EZ-Ranch
  • Email software
  • Farm Business Software Systems Smart Feeder
  • Farm Files Crops
  • Farm Files Livestock
  • Fish stocking databases
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Geographic resources analysis support system GRASS
  • Global Mapper Software Global Mapper
  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • Hatchery database systems
  • Innovative Software Solutions Picas
  • International Response Technologies CowChip - Ranch House
  • John Deere Apex Farm Management
  • KELTEC Systems HerdMaster
  • Lion Edge Technologies Ranch Manager
  • MapInfo
  • MapShots EASi Suite
  • Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense
  • Oracle NetSuite
  • Payroll software
  • Pear Technology Fieldman Farmer
  • PigCHAMP Care 3000
  • ProducePak Mobile Farm Management
  • Red Wing Software CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture
  • Resource planning software
  • SST Development Group SSToolbox
  • SST Development Group Stratus
  • Sanders Software Consulting FarmBooks
  • Specialized Data Systems Ultra Farm
  • Staff scheduling software
  • Statistical analysis software
  • Stenco Technologies Farm Trends
  • Sunrise Software CropSave
  • TapLogic FarmLogic
  • TatukGIS Editor
  • Time reporting software
  • Trimble AgGPS EZ-Map
  • Trimble Farm Works
  • Vertical Solutions Easy-Farm Accounting
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software
  • ZedX AgFleet
  • i.Agri LandMark Farm

Tools & Equipment (159)

  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Aeration pumps
  • Aerosol foggers
  • Air compression equipment
  • Animal blood collection syringes
  • Animal feeders
  • Animal transportation trailers
  • Animal vaccination syringes
  • Aquaculture tanks
  • Artificial insemination kits
  • Backhoe attachments
  • Backhoes
  • Bar code readers
  • Belt conveyor systems
  • Bench scales
  • Biological filters
  • Branding equipment
  • Brush mowers
  • Cage nets
  • Carbon dioxide systems
  • Centrifugal water pumps
  • Chain saws
  • Chemical sprayers
  • Chipping equipment
  • Circular saws
  • Claw hammers
  • Clockwork belt feeders
  • Composting equipment
  • Cordless power drills
  • Corn pickers
  • Desktop computers
  • Dew point meters
  • Digital flowmeters
  • Dip nets
  • Drainage pumps
  • Drip emitters
  • Dump trucks
  • Egg gathering equipment
  • Electric timing devices
  • Extended pole pruners
  • Extension ladders
  • Farm tractors
  • Farm trucks
  • Fertigation equipment
  • Fertilizer injectors
  • Field cultivators
  • Field watering systems
  • Fish collection nets
  • Fish counters
  • Fish crowders
  • Fish egg counters
  • Fish egg sorters
  • Fish feeders
  • Fish graders
  • Fish holding pens
  • Fish incubators
  • Fish transfer pumps
  • Fish traps
  • Forklifts
  • Four wheel drive 4WD trucks
  • Fry nets
  • Fumigation equipment
  • Garden hoes
  • Gardening shovels
  • Gas-powered generators
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • Grain combines
  • Grain drills
  • Grain dryers
  • Grain scales
  • Grease guns
  • Hacksaws
  • Handheld computers
  • Handheld dissolved oxygen meters
  • Handsaws
  • Hay balers
  • Hay mowing machines
  • Hay trucks
  • Humidifiers
  • Humidity meters
  • Hydroponic equipment
  • Impact sprinklers
  • Laptop computers
  • Lawn edgers
  • Lawn mowers
  • Layout squares
  • Light evaluation meters
  • Line cutters
  • Livestock castration equipment
  • Manure spreaders
  • Materials conveyors
  • Mechanized tilling equipment
  • Microsprinklers
  • Milking equipment
  • Mist control systems
  • Mowing equipment
  • Mulch spreaders
  • Multipurpose pliers
  • Multipurpose tractors
  • Oil dispensing cans
  • Overhead sprinklers
  • Ozone generators
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips screwdrivers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Pneumatic cutters
  • Pneumatic pruners
  • Pop-up sprinklers
  • Portable air compressors
  • Portable dataloggers
  • Portable power saws
  • Portable welding equipment
  • Poultry incubators
  • Power augers
  • Power monitors
  • Power mowers
  • Power nail guns
  • Power nail pullers
  • Powered trailers
  • Propane torches
  • Pruning tools
  • Radiant heaters
  • Round metal files
  • Safety gloves
  • Screen filters
  • Security alarm systems
  • Seine reels
  • Skid steer machines
  • Snow blowers
  • Snowplow attachments
  • Soil electrical conductivity measurement devices
  • Soil mixers
  • Soil pasteurizers
  • Soil thermometers
  • Sport utility vehicles SUVs
  • Spray attachments
  • Steam sterilizers
  • Stereo light microscopes
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Tablet computers
  • Tanker trucks
  • Temperature monitors
  • Tongue and groove pliers
  • Transplanting equipment
  • Trenchers
  • Trickle irrigators
  • Tubing cutters
  • Turbine water pumps
  • Ultraviolet light UV water disinfection systems
  • Utility forklifts
  • Utility knives
  • Water filters
  • Water level monitors
  • Water test kits
  • Weedeaters
  • Woodworking chisels
  • pH indicators
  • pH probes

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Plant Systems Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 4
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers You are here

Agribusiness Public Service & Safety

Zone 4
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers You are here
Zone 5
Economists 75% match

Animal Systems Healthcare & Human Services

Zone 2
Zone 4
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers You are here
Zone 5

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