Life As a Farm or Ranch Manager
Occupation Description 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.
What Do Farm and Ranch Managers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Obtain financing necessary for purchases of machinery, land, supplies, or livestock.
- Hire, train, or supervise workers engaged in planting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, or marketing crops, or in raising livestock.
- Buy or sell futures contracts or price farm products in advance of future sales to minimize risk or maximize profits.
- Operate or oversee the operations of dairy farms that produce bulk milk.
- Plan and direct development or production of hardier or higher-yield hybrid plant varieties.
- Monitor and adjust irrigation systems to distribute water according to crop needs and to avoid wasting water.
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Things a Farm or Ranch Manager Should Know How to Do
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Other Farm or Ranch Manager Job Titles
- Sugar Plantation Manager
- Turf Farmer
- Tree Fruit and Nut Crops Farmer
- Inside Horticultural Specialty Grower
- Arboriculturist
Farm or Ranch Manager Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,028,700 jobs in the United States for Farm or Ranch Manager. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Farm or Ranch Manager. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 74,300 job openings in this field each year.

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.
How Much Does a Farm or Ranch Manager Make?
The salary for Farm and Ranch Managers ranges between about $35,440 and $136,940 a year.

Farm and Ranch Managers who work in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Farm and Ranch Managers 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
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Farm and Ranch Managers:
- 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
- MapInfo
- ESRI ArcPad
- John Deere Apex Farm Management
- Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
- Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense
- CDA International Manifold System
- SST Development Group SSToolbox
- Cattlesoft CattleMax
- Global Mapper Software Global Mapper
Becoming a Farm or Ranch Manager
Are there Farm and Ranch Managers education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Farm or Ranch Manager?

Who Employs Farm and Ranch Managers?

Farm and Ranch Managers work in the following industries:

References:
Image Credit: Billy Hathorn via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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