The enormity and complexity of agricultural farms necessitates the involvement of farm managers who not only supervise but also co-ordinate farming activities. The duties and job responsibilities of a farm manager are solely dependent upon the magnitude and nature of agricultural operation. Such agriculture jobs vary from managing a small-scale farm to overseeing part of a large farm. The job responsibilities of a farm manager include:
- Making basic decisions for the farm such as what to produce and how much to produce to maintain an appropriate profit margin, which methods of production to use and which marketing techniques to use.
- Planning the type of agricultural operations to be undertaken keeping the cost factoring in mind.
- Examining soil conditions and deciding upon the quantity and quality of fertilizers to be used for agricultural production.
- Purchasing various agricultural machinery and equipment required for better production.
- Analyzing market trends and planning marketing strategies such as efficient liaison with prospective clients.
- Outlining plans for profit maximization, identifying monetary constraints and monitoring production.
- Drafting the best practices and procedures for farming and preparing the farm's annual budget.
- Undertaking activities to prevent environmental erosion and monitoring the effects of the environment on farming activities.
- Solving problems that might occur during normal farming operations.
- Understanding of soil, land and farming practices
- Decision-making and judging power
- Efficiency in planning
- Analytical power and problem-solving capability
- Powerful communication skills
- Managerial and personnel management skill
- Adaptability to various weather conditions and work conditions
- Flexibility in terms of working hours especially during peak cropping season when job hours can be stressful.
- Computer skills required for keeping records and analyzing the business.
- Completion of a four-year degree program from an accredited agricultural school in farm management or specialization in areas like agricultural economics, business and crops.
- Work experience in agricultural farms is an added advantage.
- By passing a test conducted by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, some can opt to become an Accredited Farm Manager.
Efficient farm managers can initiate productive use of agricultural resources and can immensely contribute to efficient farming practices. The demand for farm managers is on the rise with increased complexity in farming businesses. This leads to improved farming operations with profit maximization and overall success of an agricultural farm.
