American farm operators and managers direct the activities of one of the world's largest and most productive agricultural sectors. They produce enough food and fiber to meet the needs of our Nation and to export huge quantities to countries around the world.
Farm operators may be farmer-owners or tenant farmers who rent the use of land. Their specific tasks are determined by the type of farm they operate. On crop farms-farms growing grain, cotton and other fibers, fruit, and vegetables farm operators are responsible for planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting. After the harvest, they make sure that the crops are properly stored or packaged, loaded, and promptly marketed. On livestock, dairy, and poultry farms, farm operators must plan, feed, and care for the animals and keep barns, pens, coops, and other farm buildings clean and in repair. They also oversee breeding, some slaughtering, and marketing activities. On horticultural specialty farms, farm operators oversee the production of ornamental plants, nursery products such as flowers, bulbs, shrubbery, and sod and fruits and vegetables grown in greenhouses.
Farm operators must make many managerial decisions. Their farm output is strongly influenced by the weather, disease, fluctuations in prices of domestic and foreign farm products, and, in many cases, Federal farm programs. Farm operators must determine the best time to seed, fertilize, cultivate, harvest, and market. They must carefully plan the combination of crops they grow so that, if the price of one crop drops, they will have sufficient income from another to make up for it. Also, prices of crops and livestock change from one month to another, and farm operators who plan ahead may be able to store their crops or keep their livestock to take advantage of better prices later in the year. Farm operators may have to secure loans from credit agencies to finance the purchase of machinery, fertilizer, livestock, and feed. They also keep extensive financial and inventory records of the farm operation; increasingly, farm operators are turning to computers to assist in these tasks.
Farm operators perform tasks ranging from caring for livestock, to operating machinery, to erecting fences and sheds. The size of the farm often determines which of these tasks operators will handle themselves. Operators of large farms have employees who do much of the physical work that small-farm operators do themselves. Operators are responsible for training workers in the use of equipment and supervising them in the performance of their work. Although employment on most farms is limited to the farm operator and one or two family workers or hired employees, some large farms have 100 or more full-time and seasonal workers. Some of these workers are in nonfarm occupations, such as truckdriver, sales representative, bookkeeper, and computer specialist.
Farm managers have duties and responsibilities that vary widely. For example, the owner of a very large livestock farm may employ a farm manager to oversee a single activity such as feeding livestock. When managing a small crop farm for an absentee owner, on the other hand, the farm manager may assume responsibility for all functions, from planning the crop to participating in planting and harvesting activities. Farm management firms and corporations involved in agriculture employ highly trained professional farm managers who may manage some or all farm operations or oversee tenant operators of several farms. In these cases, farm managers may establish output goals, determine financial constraints, and monitor production and marketing.
On some large farms, farm operators and managers direct 100 or more full-time and seasonal workers.
The soil, topography of the land, and the climate of an area generally determine the type of farming that is done. For example, wheat, corn, and other grains are most efficiently grown on large farms on level land where large, complex machinery can best be used. Thus, these crops are prevalent on the prairies of Iowa and Illinois or the plains of Nebraska and Kansas. Crops that require longer growing seasons, such as cotton, tobacco, and peanuts, are grown chiefly in the South. Most of the country's fruits and vegetables come from California, Texas, and Florida. Many dairy herds are found in the areas of good pastureland, such as Wisconsin, New York, and Minnesota. Livestock production requires large tracts of land for grazing and feed grain production and thus is concentrated in Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, and some Western States.
Many types of farming are seasonal. Although many farm operators and managers on crop farms work from sunup to sundown during the planting and harvesting seasons, they often work on the farm only 6 to 7 months a year, and many have second jobs off the farm.
On farms that raise animals for meat or dairy products, work goes on constantly throughout the year. Because animals must be fed and watered every day and cows must be milked twice daily, operators of these farms must share work with others or they will rarely get the chance to be away.
Farm work can be hazardous. Farmers may be injured by planting and harvesting machinery or large livestock. In addition, they are subject to illnesses and diseases from improper handling and breathing of dangerous pesticides and chemicals.
On very large farms, farm operators spend substantial time meeting with farm managers or farm supervisors in charge of various activities. Professional farm managers overseeing several farms may divide their time between traveling to meet with farm operators and planning and scheduling farm operations while in their offices.
Farm operators and managers held about 1,218,000 jobs in 1992. Most managed crop production activities while others managed livestock production. A relatively small number were involved in agricultural services such as contract harvesting and farm labor contracting.
Growing up on a family farm and participating in agricultural programs for young people sponsored by the National FFA Organization or the 4-H youth educational programs are important sources of training for those interested in pursuing agriculture as a career. However, modern farming requires increasingly complex scientific, business, and financial decisions. Thus, even young people who have lived on farms must acquire a strong educational background. High school training should include courses in mathematics and the sciences. Completion of a 2-year and preferably a 4-year program in a college of agriculture is becoming increasingly important.
Not all people who want to become a farm manager grew up on a farm. For these people, a bachelor's degree in agriculture is essential. In order to qualify for a farm manager position, they will need several years' work experience in many different phases of farm operation.
Students should select the college most appropriate to their specific interests and location. All States have land-grant universities that include a college of agriculture; their major programs of study include areas such as dairy science, agricultural economics and business, horticulture, crop and fruit science, soil science, and animal science. Also, colleges usually offer special programs of study covering products important to the area in which they are located, such as animal science programs at colleges in the Western and Plains States. Whatever one's interest, the college curriculum should include courses in farm production and in business, finance, and economics.
Professional status can be enhanced through voluntary certification as an accredited farm manager (AFM) by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Certification requires several years' farm experience and the appropriate academic background a bachelor's degree or preferably a master's degree in a field of agricultural science and passing courses and examinations relating to business, financial, and legal aspects of farm management.
Farm operators and managers need to keep abreast of continuing advances in farming methods both in the United States and abroad. They should be willing to try new processes and adapt to constantly changing technologies to produce their crops or raise their livestock more efficiently. Keeping abreast of changing foreign agricultural policies and international exchange rates is important to operators of farms producing internationally traded crops and livestock. Operators also must have enough technical knowledge of crops and growing conditions and plant and animal diseases to be able to make decisions that ensure the successful operation of their farms. Knowledge of the relationship between farm operations for example, the use of pesticides and environmental conditions is essential. Mechanical aptitude and the ability to work with tools of all kinds also are valuable skills for the operator of a small farm, who often must maintain and repair machinery or farm structures.
Farm operators and managers must have the managerial skills necessary to organize and operate a business. A basic knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping can be helpful in keeping financial records, and a knowledge of credit sources is essential. They also must keep abreast of complex safety regulations, requirements of government agricultural support programs, and paperwork faced by other small businesses. Familiarity with computers is important, especially on large farms, where computers are often used for recordkeeping and business analysis. For example, some farmers use personal computers connected to telephones to get the latest information on prices of farm products and other agricultural news.
Employment of farm operators and managers is expected to continue to decline through the year 2005. The expanding world population is increasing the demand for food and fiber. However, increasing productivity in the highly efficient U.S. agricultural sector is expected to easily meet domestic and export requirements with fewer but larger farms. Although requirements for machinery and equipment will remain stable or increase slightly, land and labor requirements in the agricultural sector will decrease, but at a slower rate than in the past. The overwhelming majority of job openings will result from the need to replace farmers who retire or leave the occupation for economic or other reasons.
The trend toward fewer and larger farms, primarily through mergers, is expected to continue to reduce the number of jobs for farm operators. A farm can be acquired by inheritance; however, purchasing a farm is expensive and requires substantial capital. In addition, sufficient funds are required to withstand the adverse effects of climate and price fluctuations upon farm output and income and to cover operating costs livestock, feed, seed, and fuel. Also, the complexity of modern farming and keen competition among farmers leave little room for the marginally successful farmer or the gentleman farmer who considers farming a hobby rather than a necessity. Small and medium-size farms, many of which do not generate sufficient income to support the desired standard of living, are expected to decrease in number. However, the small but increasing number of horticultural farms may provide some employment opportunities.
The increase in the average size of farms and in the complexity of farming are expected to spur demand for highly trained and experienced farm managers. Additional demand will come from the increasing number of absentee owners who, rather than work their farms, often hire farm managers to run the farm or oversee tenant farmers.
Farmers' incomes vary greatly from year to year, since prices of farm products fluctuate depending upon weather conditions and other factors that influence the amount and quality of farm output and the demand for those products. A farm that shows a large profit in one year may show a loss in the following year. Many farmers primarily operators of small farms have income from off-farm business activities often several times larger than their farm income.
Farm income also varies greatly depending upon the type and size of farm. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, average cash income net of expenses in 1993 was over $100,000 for operators of vegetable and fruit, cotton, and poultry and egg farms. On the other hand, cattle and tobacco farms generated less than $15,000 in cash income, on the average. Generally, large farms generate more income than small farms. Exceptions include some specialty farms producing low-volume but high-value horticultural and fruit products.
Farm managers who were paid a wage or salary and who worked full time had median earnings of $382 a week in 1992. The middle half earned between $382 and $545 a week. The highest paid managers earned over $696 a week in 1992, while the lowest paid made less than $185 a week.
Farmers and self-employed farm managers make their own provisions for benefits. As members of farm organizations, they may derive benefits such as group discounts on health and life insurance premiums. Salaried farm managers may receive housing and the usual benefits such as paid vacations and health insurance.
Farmers and farm managers strive to improve the quality of agricultural products and the efficiency of farms. Workers with similar functions include agricultural engineers, animal breeders, animal scientists, county agricultural agents, dairy scientists, extension service specialists, feed and farm management advisors, horticulturalists, plant breeders, and poultry scientists.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor