Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers held about 975,400 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers were as follows:
Self-employed workers | 68% |
Crop production | 19 |
Animal production and aquaculture | 12 |
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers typically work outdoors, but may spend some time in offices. They often do strenuous physical work.
Some farmers work primarily with crops and vegetables. Other farmers and ranchers handle livestock.
Injuries and Illnesses
The work environment for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers can be hazardous. Tractors, tools, and other farm machinery can cause serious injury, so workers must be alert on the job. They must operate equipment and handle chemicals properly to avoid accidents and safeguard the surrounding environment.
Work Schedules
Most farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers work full time. Farm work can be seasonal, and the number of hours worked may change according to the season. Farmers and farm managers on crop farms usually work from sunrise to sunset during the planting and harvesting seasons. During the rest of the year, they plan the next season’s crops, market their output, and repair and maintain machinery. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
On livestock-producing farms and ranches, work goes on throughout the year. Animals must be fed and cared for every day.
On large farms, farmers and farm managers spend time meeting with farm supervisors. Managers who oversee several farms may divide their time between traveling to meet farmers and landowners and staying in their offices to plan farm operations.
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers usually have at least a high school diploma and typically gain skills through work experience.
Education
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers usually have at least a high school diploma. As farm and land management has grown more complex and costly, farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers have increasingly needed postsecondary education, such as an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in agriculture or a related field.
All state university systems have at least one land-grant college or university with a school of agriculture. Common programs of study include business (with a concentration in agriculture), plant breeding, farm management, agronomy, dairy science, and agricultural economics.
There are a number of government programs that help new farmers get an education in farming. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has service centers across the country that assist new farmers in accessing programs offered by USDA. These programs include those that provide financial assistance for land and capital, help with finalizing a business plan, and assistance with conservation planning.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Prospective farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers typically work as agricultural workers for several years where they gain the knowledge and experience needed to operate their own farm or switch to management. Some of them may grow up on a family farm and learn that way. The amount of experience that is needed varies with the complexity of the work and the size of the farm. Those with postsecondary education in agriculture may not need previous work experience. Universities and various forms of government assistance give prospective farmers alternatives to working on a farm or growing up on one.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
To show competency in farm management, agricultural managers may choose to become certified. The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) offer the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) credential. The AFM requires 85 hours of coursework in land management and business ethics; a bachelor’s degree; 4 years of experience in farm or ranch management; and passing an exam. A complete list of requirements is available from ASFMRA.
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers typically have an interest in the Building, Persuading and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Persuading or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a farmer, rancher, and other agricultural managers, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Analytical skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers must monitor and assess the quality of their land or livestock. These tasks require precision and accuracy.
Critical-thinking skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers make tough decisions through sound reasoning and judgment. They determine how to improve their harvest and livestock, reacting appropriately to external factors.
Interpersonal skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers supervise laborers and other workers, so effective communication is critical.
Mechanical skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers—particularly those working on smaller farms—must be able to operate complex machinery and occasionally perform routine maintenance.
The median annual wage for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $71,160 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,530, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $132,760.
Incomes of farmers and ranchers vary from year to year because prices of farm products fluctuate with weather conditions and other factors. In addition to earning income from their farm business, farmers can receive government subsidies or other payments that add to their income and reduce some of the risks of farming.
Also, more farmers, especially operators of small farms, are relying more on off-farm sources of income, such as community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
Most farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers work full time. Farm work can be seasonal and the number of hours worked may change according to the season. Farmers and farm managers on crop farms usually work from sunrise to sunset during the planting and harvesting seasons. During the rest of the year, they plan the next season’s crops, market their output, and repair and maintain machinery. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
On livestock-producing farms and ranches, work goes on throughout the year. Animals must be fed and cared for every day.
Employment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028. Over the past several decades, the efficiencies of large-scale crop production have led to the consolidation of acreage under fewer, but larger, farms. As farms become larger, they are able to invest more in productivity-enhancing technologies, reinforcing this effect.
Despite steady demand for agricultural products, many small farms operate with slim profit margins and are vulnerable to poor market conditions. As in the past, operators of smaller farms will likely continue to exit the business over the next decade.
Job Prospects
Prospective farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers may face competition. Some job opportunities will arise from retirements of older workers.
Some small-scale farmers may improve their job prospects by developing successful market niches that involve personalized, direct contact with their customers. Many are finding opportunities in organic food production. Others sell their output at farmers’ markets that cater directly to urban and suburban consumers, allowing the farmers to capture a greater share of consumers’ food dollars.
For more information about agriculture policy and farm advocacy, visit
For more information about federal resources for agriculture, visit the following websites at the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
For more information on farm manager certification, visit
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
CareerOneStop
For career videos on farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers, visit
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