Farm / Agricultural Manager

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Aquaculture Director; Farm Manager; Farm Operations Technical Director; Fish Hatchery Manager; Greenhouse Manager; Harvesting Manager; Hatchery Manager; Hatchery Supervisor; Nursery Manager; Ranch Manager

Tasks

• Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
• Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
• Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
• Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
• Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
• Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
• Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
• Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.
• Prepare reports required by state and federal laws.
• Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work.
• Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches.
• Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities.
• Direct the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle, poultry, or honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement.
• Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock.
• Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock.

Knowledge

• Administration and Management
• Production and Processing
• Biology
• Mathematics
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Food Production
• English Language
• Economics and Accounting
• Sales and Marketing
• Customer and Personal Service
• Mechanical
• Education and Training
• Chemistry

Skills

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Writing

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Written Comprehension
• Category Flexibility
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Information Ordering
• Speech Recognition
• Fluency of Ideas
• Perceptual Speed
• Near Vision
• Far Vision
• Originality
• Flexibility of Closure
• Visualization
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Selective Attention
• Arm-Hand Steadiness