What is a Farm or Ranch Manager?
Job 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.
Life As a Farm or Ranch Manager
- Demonstrate or explain working techniques, practices, or safety regulations to farm or ranch workers.
- Inspect farm or ranch equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Direct crop production operations, such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, or harvesting.
- Hire, train, or supervise workers engaged in planting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, or marketing crops, or in raising livestock.
- Change processes such as drying, grading, storing, or shipping to improve efficiency or profitability.
- Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Farm or Ranch Manager?
Farm and Ranch Managers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Agricultural Crop Farm Manager
- Game Breeding Farm Manager
- Fruit Farmer
- Dairy Farm Operator
- Bush and Vine Fruit Crop 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. 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.
Salary for a Farm or Ranch Manager
The average yearly salary of a Farm or Ranch Manager ranges between $35,440 and $136,940.

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
- 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?

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

Where Farm and Ranch Managers Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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