Farm managers must know what crops will be profitable during a growing season based on factors such as disease, weather projections and market fluctuations in prices of domestic farm products, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. They then must develop planting and harvesting schedules and supervise farm employees. Farm managers also must know how to apply fertilizer and pesticides to crops, or they must care for animals and lead breeding activities if they manage livestock farms. Farm management training programs teach students how to perform these many critical responsibilities.
Individuals who are interested in entering the farm management field should complete at least a two-year associate degree program in areas such as farm management, animal science or agricultural business. However, completing a more in-depth four-year bachelor’s degree program in this field can strengthen students’ farming and leadership skills. Aspiring farm managers actually can receive on-the-job training from experienced farm managers. Following training in this field, students can land jobs with individual farm owners or farming corporations.
Courses in a farm management training program cover topics such as agricultural economics, business with a focus on agriculture, animal science and horticulture. Students also learn about crop/fruit science, dairy science and even agronomy--the application of plant and soil science to crop production, according to Princeton University. In addition, students study accounting, bookkeeping, plant disease and growing conditions, reports DegreeDirectory.org.
After completing a four-year farm management training program, students can pursue voluntary certification in this field, which makes them more employable. For certification as an Accredited Farm Manager through the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, individuals must have several years of experience in farm management along with a bachelor’s degree in an agricultural science area. They additionally must pass exams on law, finance and business as they relate to farm management, and must complete continuing education courses to maintain their certification.
Employment of agricultural managers such as farm managers is projected to climb 6 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Farmland owners who do not live on the land they own need managers to operate their farms as successful businesses. Median weekly earnings of agricultural managers such as farm managers in 2008 were $775--or about $40,300 a year, reports the BLS.