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Farm or Ranch Manager

What You Need to Know About Farm or Ranch Manager

Job Description & Duties Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, or 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, financial, or marketing activities.

List of Farm or Ranch Manager Job Duties

  • Direct crop production operations, such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, or harvesting.
  • Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches.
  • Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production.
  • Operate or oversee the operations of dairy farms that produce bulk milk.
  • Direct livestock or crop waste recycling operations.
  • Evaluate marketing or sales alternatives for farm or ranch products.

Farm or Ranch Manager Required Skills

When polled, Farm and Ranch Managers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Types of Farm or Ranch Manager Jobs

  • Fruit Grower
  • Sugar Cane Planter
  • Feedlot Manager
  • Cash Grain Farmer
  • Horticultural Farmer

Are There Job Opportunities for Farm and Ranch Managers?

In the United States, there were 1,028,700 jobs for Farm or Ranch Manager in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Farm or Ranch Manager. There will be an estimated 74,300 positions for Farm or Ranch Manager per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Farm or Ranch Manager are Oregon, Nevada, and Massachusetts. Watch out if you plan on working in South Carolina, California, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Farm or Ranch Manager Average Salary

Farm and Ranch Managers make between $35,440 and $136,940 a year.

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Farm and Ranch Managers who work in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina, make the highest salaries.

How much do Farm and Ranch Managers make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Arizona $75,870
Arkansas $67,520
California $91,670
Florida $71,880
Georgia $84,110
Idaho $60,470
Illinois $66,820
Indiana $64,030
Iowa $82,070
Kentucky $78,290
Louisiana $75,170
Maryland $89,660
Massachusetts $65,710
Michigan $67,030
Minnesota $95,000
Missouri $62,850
Nebraska $67,190
Nevada $90,900
North Carolina $100,370
Ohio $78,330
Oklahoma $57,230
Oregon $68,450
Pennsylvania $90,650
South Carolina $79,070
Tennessee $60,490
Texas $81,330
Virginia $84,630
Washington $86,640
Wisconsin $72,550
Wyoming $84,720

Tools & Technologies Used by Farm and Ranch Managers

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Farm and Ranch Managers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Email software
  • SAP
  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • Payroll software
  • Geographic resources analysis support system GRASS
  • ESRI ArcPad
  • MapInfo
  • Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense
  • Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
  • Cattlesoft CattleMax
  • John Deere Apex Farm Management
  • Lion Edge Technologies Ranch Manager
  • MapShots EASi Suite
  • SST Development Group SSToolbox

How to Become a Farm or Ranch Manager

Are there Farm and Ranch Managers education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Farm or Ranch Manager?

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Where Farm and Ranch Managers Are Employed

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The table below shows the approximate number of Farm and Ranch Managers employed by various industries.

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References:

Image Credit: Billy Hathorn via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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