Farm Business Manager
Agriculture & Farming
Manage farms, ranches, and similar enterprises.
What Farm Business Managers Do
Manage farms, ranches, and similar enterprises.
Common Tasks
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- 1Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 2Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- 3Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- 4Supervise laboratory sessions and field work and coordinate laboratory operations.
- 5Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
What You'll Learn
Types of Farm Business Managers
Work Environment
Locations
- • Crop and livestock farms
- • Ranches and feedlots
- • Greenhouses and nurseries
- • Aquaculture facilities and fish hatcheries
- • Agricultural extension offices and field sites
Schedule
Schedules often follow seasons and production cycles, with early mornings and longer hours during planting, harvest, calving, or emergencies, plus moderate time pressure.
Physical Demands
Work is a mix of office tasks (planning, records, purchasing) and field or facility oversight that involves standing, walking, and handling equipment or supplies. Physical demands are generally moderate, but conditions can include heat, cold, dust, and uneven terrain.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 924,600 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand can rise as farms adopt precision agriculture, data-driven production, and tighter compliance requirements that require skilled management. Growth in specialty crops, aquaculture, and greenhouse operations can also increase the need for managers who can run complex operations profitably.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Strong earning potential in successful operations
- • Varied work combining business and hands-on agriculture
- • Opportunities to lead teams and make operational decisions
- • Skills transfer across crops, livestock, greenhouse, and aquaculture
- • Potential path to ownership or independent consulting
Cons
- • Income can be affected by weather, pests, and commodity price swings
- • Long hours during peak seasons and unexpected problems
- • Regulatory, labor, and safety responsibilities can be stressful
- • Work may involve outdoor exposure and moderate physical labor
- • Employment growth is limited in some areas due to consolidation
Common Questions About the Farm Business Manager Trade
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