Farm and Ranch Manager

Working Schedule

Farm and Ranch Managers work full-time, with overtime common. They may get up before dawn and work well past dusk. Weekend and holiday hours may be expected. They may work in offices at times, but spend ample time outdoors in all types of weather. Their roles require close proximity to animals, and exposure to insects, chemicals, vehicle noise and exhaust, manure, pathogens, dirt, dust, and allergens. 

Typical Duties

• Assess market, climate, and soil conditions 
• Continually monitor prices and try to maintain a variety of crops or livestock, in case prices go down for some
• Determine crops to grow or livestock to maintain

1. Common crops in the US include corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, fruit and tree nuts, rice, soybeans, sugar beets, sugarcane, etc.

• Inspect crops, soil, animals, animal feed, and living conditions on a regular basis
• Keep an eye on disease trends; take steps to mitigate exposure 
• Maintain a schedule for feeding and caring for animals 
• Supervise crop production (i.e., planting, fertilizing, harvesting, pest control, etc.)
• Purchase seeds, fertilizers, and equipment 
• Operate and maintain equipment (or hire workers for these jobs)
• Build and maintain facilities, including animal shelters
• Install fencing and irrigation systems
• Market crops, livestock, and associated products (such as milk) to corporations or direct to consumers/co-ops
• Ensure animal breeding is controlled and pregnant animals receive support and assistance, when necessary 
• In some cases, Farm and Ranch Managers may manage operations of more than one farm or ranches. They may also manage nurseries, greenhouses, or timber tracts
• They may hire others to perform duties such as:

1. Aquaculture management 
2. Crop management
3. Livestock, dairy, and poultry management
4. Nursery and greenhouse management

• Collaborate with specialists such as feed nutritionists, entomologists, veterinarians, water quality experts, agricultural engineers, inspectors, etc., as needed
• Review eligibility for federal programs that help farmers, such as:

1. Crop and livestock insurance
2. Farmers Market Promotion Program
3. Farm Service Agency loans
4. Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
5. Housing assistance
6. Organic Cost Share Program
7. Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

• Prepare budgets, estimate earnings, write profit and loss statements; manage financial records and submit taxes
• Oversee human resources functions such as recruiting, hiring, training, payroll and benefits, etc. 

Additional Responsibilities

• Review animal activities, living spaces, and eating habits
• Stay current on state and federal laws related to crop production, water usage, soil management, pesticides, animal feeding and care, hygiene and traceability, handling and transporting raw materials, product labeling, safety, and other procedures
• Work with agribusiness banks to secure funding for machinery purchases, renovations, system upgrades, or to cover temporary losses
• Manage incoming and outgoing deliveries; coordinate shipping with truck drivers; ensure proper storage environments and safeguards 
• Meet with sales representatives and potential customers
• Study industry trends; use new technologies and apply lessons learned

Farm and Ranch Managers oversee the daily operations of farms and ranches, making sure crops grow, livestock stay healthy, workers have what they need, and the business runs smoothly. Their workplace might be a large cattle ranch, a dairy farm, a poultry operation, a fruit orchard, or a mixed farm that raises animals and grows crops. They balance hands-on agricultural work with business decisions, planning everything from planting schedules and animal care to equipment repairs, labor costs, and product sales. For anyone who enjoys working outdoors, leading people, and managing a business connected to food and agriculture, this career offers a mix of practical work and responsibility.

A typical day might begin with checking weather forecasts, reviewing work schedules, and walking through fields, barns, pastures, or animal housing areas to see how things are going. Farm and Ranch Managers may inspect crops for pests or disease, check irrigation systems, monitor livestock health, review feed supplies, and make sure fences, tractors, and other equipment are in good condition. They assign tasks to farmworkers, supervise planting, harvesting, feeding, breeding, or milking activities, and handle unexpected problems such as broken machinery, animal illness, or changing weather conditions. They also keep track of expenses, order seeds and supplies, maintain production records, coordinate deliveries, and communicate with buyers, veterinarians, suppliers, and agricultural specialists.

To do their jobs, Farm and Ranch Managers use tractors, trucks, irrigation systems, livestock-handling equipment, farm tools, computers, spreadsheets, and farm management software. Some spend much of the day outdoors working alongside employees, while others divide their time between the fields, barns, and an office. Their schedules can be long and may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, especially during planting, harvesting, or calving seasons. Their work matters because they help produce food and other agricultural products, care for animals and land, manage resources, and keep farms and ranches productive and financially sustainable.

Soft Skills

• Adaptable
• Analytical 
• Attention to detail
• Commitment 
• Communication skills
• Coordination
• Critical-thinking and decision-making
• Independent
• Integrity
• Investigative
• Loyalty
• Monitoring
• Objectivity 
• Organized
• Patience
• Physical stamina
• Problem-solving
• Resourceful 
• Sound judgment 
• Stamina
• Strong Initiative
• Teamwork
• Trustworthiness 

Technical Skills

• Accounting and budget software
• Animal husbandry 
• Biotechnology, crop and soil science, crop physiology, and propagation
• Business acumen
• Calendar/scheduling software
• Crop production, storage, farm equipment (plows, tractors, combines, balers, and mowers); and earthmoving heavy equipment (excavators, skid steers, backhoes, bulldozers, and graders)
• Farm-related programs such as Ag Leader Technology, CattleMax, Trimble Farm Works
• FDA and USDA guidelines
• Fiduciary responsibility
• First aid; job safety; personal protective equipment; and sanitation
• General skills in biology, chemistry, geography, arithmetic, statistics, and meteorology
• Geographic information systems
• Map creation programs; process mapping; project management
• Time accounting/payroll software; human resources management
• Tools and equipment for testing agricultural products
• Understanding of food-related disease control, antimicrobial resistance, and foodborne germs

• Crop Farm Managers: Oversee farms that grow crops such as corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, fruits, and vegetables. They plan planting and harvesting schedules, monitor crop health, manage irrigation, and coordinate workers and equipment.
• Livestock Farm Managers: Supervise farms that raise animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. They oversee feeding, breeding, animal health, housing, and daily livestock care.
• Dairy Farm Managers: Manage dairy operations that produce milk and other dairy products. They supervise milking schedules, feed management, herd health, milk quality, equipment maintenance, and employee activities.
• Ranch Managers: Oversee large properties where livestock, particularly cattle, sheep, or horses, are raised. They manage grazing areas, pastures, breeding programs, animal movement, fencing, and ranch employees.
• Poultry Farm Managers: Manage farms that raise chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other poultry for meat or egg production. They oversee feeding, housing conditions, egg collection, sanitation, disease prevention, and production schedules.
• Organic Farm Managers: Supervise farms that grow crops or raise livestock using certified organic practices. They manage soil health, natural pest control, approved inputs, crop rotation, and organic production requirements.
• Horticulture Farm Managers: Oversee operations that grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, or nursery stock. They coordinate planting, pruning, irrigation, pest management, harvesting, and product quality.
• Mixed Farm Managers: Manage agricultural operations that combine crop production and livestock raising. They coordinate resources, workers, equipment, and schedules across different farm activities.
• Aquaculture Farm Managers: Oversee farms that raise fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms. They manage feeding, water quality, breeding, disease prevention, equipment, and harvesting operations.

• Aquaculture sites
• Crop producers
• Livestock producers
• Research and development facilities
• Self-employed farmers and ranchers

Farm and Ranch Managers bear significant responsibilities to their operations, workers, stakeholders, end customers, communities, animals under their care, and the environment itself! And because of their huge commitments, they must stay constantly vigilant and involved with every aspect of the farm or ranch they manage. 

Their personal lives become tied to their jobs, which have demanding schedules that require getting up early and working late to tend to livestock and crops. They must be ready to adapt and respond to seasonal weather fluctuations, broader environmental challenges, pest and disease outbreaks, market uncertainties, and changing regulations—all while ensuring their daily tasks get done. 

The work of Farm and Ranch Managers is crucial for ultimately providing food for local, out-of-town—and even out-of-state—communities. Though often unrecognized for their invaluable contributions, they are the agricultural backbone of our entire society! 

Farms are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, which negatively impacted the global food industry. Supply chain disruptions have caused shipping delays, with food items going bad en route. Meanwhile, the industry is facing unprecedented climate factors that continue to affect crops, animals, pest infestations, and water usage. 

Science-based solutions aim to “help [farmers] make their operations more resilient and sustainable for the long term.” This is part of a larger shift towards more sustainable, eco-friendly agricultural practices. At the same time, smaller farms that don’t realize sufficient profits may close or sell their land to larger organizations.

Overall, the career field is shrinking slightly due to improvements in production practices and technologies that increase efficiency. However, workers with knowledge of these practices and tech tools should fare better than those without.  

Farm and Ranch Managers often grow up on farms or in rural areas with close ties to the local agricultural communities. They probably always loved being outdoors, working in gardens or fields, and just being around horses, livestock, and other animals! 

They’re practical, hard-working, and don’t mind getting their hands dirty. In school, they may have participated in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, National High School Rodeo Association, or related activities.