Farmers and Farm Managers (NOC 8251)

Description

Farmers and farm managers manage the operations and functions of a farm. They are responsible for growing crops, raising and breeding livestock, poultry and other animals and marketing farm products.

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Example Titles

apiarist
apple grower
breeder, domestic animals
chicken farmer
dairy farmer
feedlot manager
fruit farmer
fur farmer
hog breeder
horse breeder
market gardener
potato farmer
rancher
seed grower
sod farmer
vegetable grower
wheat farmer

>> View all titles

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Classified Elsewhere

Agricultural and Related Service Contractors and Managers (8252)
Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers (8253)
Nursery and Greenhouse Operators and Managers (8254)
Supervisors, Landscape and Horticulture (8256)

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Duties

Farmers and farm managers perform some or all the following duties:

Manage the overall operation of a farm, ranch or orchard
Determine amount and kinds of crops to be grown and livestock to be raised
Plant, cultivate and harvest crops
Raise and breed livestock and poultry
Hire and supervise farm workers
Establish a marketing program
Purchase farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed and other supplies
Maintain farm machinery, equipment and buildings
Develop and keep financial and production records.

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Skills

Farmers and farm managers may need any or all of the following skills and abilities:

An interest in working with animals in a production environment, in all aspects of care from breeding, gestation and farrowing, to weaning and finishing
An interest and ability in science, to be able to understand the conditions livestock or plants need for growth
Business management skills
Good observation skills
Good teamwork, supervisory and leadership skills
Knowledge of laws that apply to farming operations, safety regulations, and farm support provisions
Be innovative and adaptable
Good planning and problem-solving skills
Record-keeping skills for production and financial records
Basic computer skills
Good communication skills to deal with staff, suppliers, employers and specialists such as veterinarians
Farm owners must have a high tolerance for financial risk
A willingness to upgrade skills and knowledge continuously

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Employment Requirements

Experience as a farm worker is required for employment as a farmer or farm manager. Work experience must be related to the specialty area, e.g., hog barn manager, vegetable grower. Some employers may require a college or university diploma in agriculture.

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Terms & Conditions

Farmers and farm managers spend a lot of time in the cab of a tractor or other farm machinery. They may operate in all kinds of weather. Much of the work is done out of doors. Farmers and farm managers may work with dangerous chemicals and with biological agents. They must be knowledgeable in the application and the handling of these materials in order to use them safely. They occasionally work in very dusty conditions or in areas with strong odours. Farmers must be reasonably physically fit as there is a lot of lifting and carrying.

Farmers (who make up 85% of the occupational workforce) are self-employed (78%) and mostly unincorporated. Farm managers are employees of an agricultural corporation or agency. The majority of farmers and farm managers work full time (86%).

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Earnings

$30,000 per annum - starting

$35,100 per annum - average

$67,000 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

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Education / Training

Assiniboine Community College offers two-year diploma programs in Precision Agriculture and Agribusiness.
The University of Manitoba, Assiniboine Community College and the Manitoba Pork Council cooperatively provide a 240-hour Pork Production Manager Certificate Program primarily through evening and full-day seminars. The Manitoba Pork Council offers a Pork Production Manager Certificate Program (240 hours of evening or full-day courses).
The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, offers the following degree programs -
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture [University 1 plus 3 years]
Agronomy
Animal Systems
Plant Systems
Agriculture Diploma Dip. Agric. [2 years]
The two-year Agriculture Diploma is designed to accommodate people who work directly in the farm or agribusiness sector. The program combines academic study in the agricultural sciences with practical activities and projects in a wide range of agricultural subjects.
Some high schools in Manitoba offer a program in Agriculture.

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Career Paths

Farm managers usually start by gaining industry experience as unskilled workers on mixed or specialty farms. There are a variety of occupations that skilled workers may move into, such as livestock, grain or chemical sales representatives, food processing workers or government inspectors. Some of these positions may require post-secondary education.

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Outlook

Employment prospects for farmers and farm managers in the 2010 - 2014 period are expected to be good, although financial returns will vary from year to year depending upon the weather and prices on international markets. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 18,675.

Farmers and farm managers are, on average, older than people in most other occupations, and tend to retire at an older age. The number of farmers continues to decline while productivity continues to rise steadily due to investments in new machinery and equipment. Over the years farm operations have increased in scale as larger equipment has enabled farmers to cultivate more acreage. Hog production has also changed, and most farms are now large multi-barn operations. The hog industry is facing many challenges and it appears that most employment openings in the near term will be to replace those workers who retire or leave for other employment.

The large amount of capital required to commence farming, and the unpredictability of prices and weather conditions from year to year, are major deterrents for potential newcomers to the occupation.

Almost all (97%) of farmers and farm managers work in the Farms sector. A proportionally larger number of jobs are located in southern regions of Manitoba.

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