What does a farm manager do?

Would you make a good farm manager? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

Take the free career test Learn more about the career test

What is a Farm Manager?

A farm manager is responsible for running a farm, making sure everything operates smoothly and efficiently. They can work on farms of any size, whether the focus is on crops, livestock, or both. Farm managers might own the farm themselves or be hired by individuals, companies, or agricultural organizations to handle the daily tasks and long-term goals of the farm.

This job requires a mix of farming knowledge, business skills, and leadership abilities. Farm managers often live on or near the farm and work closely with farm workers, suppliers, and sometimes government agencies. The role also requires flexibility since farms can be impacted by factors like weather, market changes, and new technologies.

What does a Farm Manager do?

A farm manager talking to a farmer outside in the field.

Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of a farm manager involve overseeing all aspects of farm operations to ensure productivity and profitability. Key responsibilities include:

  • Managing Farm Operations: Farm managers plan, organize, and supervise daily activities, such as planting, harvesting, irrigation, and animal care. They ensure all activities are completed efficiently and according to schedule.
  • Financial Management: They are responsible for creating and managing the farm's budget, tracking expenses, and ensuring profitability. This includes purchasing supplies, managing payroll for workers, and negotiating contracts with suppliers and buyers.
  • Staff Supervision: Farm managers hire, train, and manage farm workers, ensuring that tasks are completed safely and effectively. They coordinate work schedules and handle any personnel issues that arise.
  • Monitoring Crop and Livestock Health: They oversee the health and growth of crops and livestock, ensuring that proper care, feeding, and medical treatment are provided. This may involve implementing pest control methods, managing feed, and handling animal health issues.
  • Ensuring Compliance with Regulations: Farm managers must stay up to date on local, state, and federal regulations regarding farming practices, including labor laws, environmental regulations, and safety standards, and ensure that the farm complies with these rules.
  • Long-Term Planning and Strategy: They also focus on long-term goals, such as improving crop yields, increasing profitability, or diversifying the farm's products. This can involve implementing new technologies, exploring sustainable farming practices, or expanding into new markets.

Types of Farm Managers
There are different types of farm managers, each focusing on a specific type of farming or livestock. Here are a few common types:

  • Crop Farm Manager: A crop farm manager is responsible for growing crops like grains, vegetables, or fruits. They handle tasks like planting, irrigation, harvesting, and ensuring the smooth operation of the farm.
  • Livestock Farm Manager: A livestock farm manager oversees animals like cattle, poultry, or pigs. They ensure the animals are healthy, well-fed, and properly cared for.
  • Dairy Farm Manager: A dairy farm manager focuses on farms that produce milk and other dairy products. They manage milking schedules, cow health, and the overall dairy operation.
  • Mixed Crop-Livestock Farm Manager: A mixed crop-livestock farm manager combines tasks of both crop production and livestock care, ensuring that both areas are managed efficiently and effectively.
  • Horticultural Farm Manager: A horticultural farm manager works with farms that grow fruits, vegetables, or flowers. They are in charge of plant care and growing specialty crops.
  • Farm Operations Manager: A farm operations manager oversees the day-to-day activities of a farm. They manage resources, coordinate tasks, and ensure the farm is running smoothly and efficiently.

Are you suited to be a farm manager?

Farm managers have distinct personalities. They tend to be enterprising individuals, which means they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic. They are dominant, persuasive, and motivational. Some of them are also realistic, meaning they’re independent, stable, persistent, genuine, practical, and thrifty.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if farm manager is one of your top career matches.

Take the free test now Learn more about the career test

What is the workplace of a Farm Manager like?

The workplace of a farm manager is usually located on or near the farm they oversee. It can range from a small, family-run operation to a large, commercial agricultural business. The manager’s office may be located in a farmhouse, a dedicated office on the property, or sometimes even in a mobile office depending on the farm’s setup. While farm managers spend a significant amount of time in the office handling administrative tasks, a large portion of their day is spent outdoors or on the farm grounds, overseeing the operations and interacting with workers.

Farm managers work in various environments based on the type of farm they manage. For crop farms, they might oversee fields, irrigation systems, and equipment maintenance, while livestock farm managers focus on animal care, barns, and fencing. They often have to adapt to weather conditions, as their daily tasks are influenced by seasons and environmental factors. This job requires flexibility, hands-on involvement, and sometimes long working hours to ensure that the farm runs efficiently and meets production goals.

Frequently Asked Questions



Careers



Degrees

Continue reading

See Also
Alligator Farmer Animal Assisted Therapist Animal Behaviorist Animal Breeder Animal Caretaker Animal Control Worker Animal Lawyer Animal Nutritionist Animal Scientist Animal Trainer Animal Trainer For Film And Television Aquacultural Manager Aquaculturist Aquarist Avian Veterinarian Beekeeper Bird Trainer Chicken Sexer Circus Animal Trainer Comparative Anatomist Conservation Biologist Conservation Scientist Crocodile Wrangler Dairy Farm Worker Dairy Scientist Dog Breeder Dog Groomer Dog Trainer Dog Walker Ecologist Emergency and Critical Care Veterinarian Entomologist Equine Veterinarian Ethologist Evolutionary Biologist Exotic Animal Veterinarian Falconer Farmer Farrier Fish and Game Warden Fishery Officer Guide Dog Trainer Herpetologist Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist Horse Trainer Ichthyologist Jockey Kennel Technician Large Animal Veterinarian Livestock Farmer Mammalogist Marine Biologist Marine Mammal Trainer Oceanographer Ornithologist Pet Adoption Counselor Pet Detective Poultry Farmer Poultry Scientist Public Health Veterinarian Racehorse Trainer Rancher Small Animal Veterinarian Snake Milker Theriogenologist Vermiculturist Veterinarian Veterinary Acupuncturist Veterinary Anesthesiologist Veterinary Behaviorist Veterinary Cardiologist Veterinary Dentist Veterinary Dermatologist Veterinary Neurologist Veterinary Ophthalmologist Veterinary Oncologist Veterinary Pathologist Veterinary Surgeon Veterinary Technician Veterinary Technologist Veterinary Assistant Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Ecologist Wildlife Enforcement Officer Wildlife Photographer Wildlife Rehabilitator Wildlife Veterinarian Zoo Curator Zoo Educator Zoo Endocrinologist Zoologist Exterminator Dairy Farmer Marine Ecologist Marine Mammalogist Marine Fisheries Biologist Marine Conservationist Family Dairy Farmer Commercial Dairy Farmer Organic Dairy Farmer Artisanal Dairy Farmer Robotic Dairy Farmer Cognitive Ethologist Neuroethologist Applied Ethologist Comparative Ethologist Comparative Animal Psychologist Behavioral Ecologist Conservation Behaviorist



Careers



Degrees

Continue reading

Farm Managers are also known as:
Farm Foreman Farm Supervisor