Skip Navigation Links Latest Numbers U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov OOH Search/A-Z Index BLS Home Get Detailed Statistics ... Find It! In DOL Printer-friendly version ( HTML PDF Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers Nature of the Work Working Conditions Employment Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement ... Sources of Additional Information Significant Points
- Modern farming requires knowledge of new developments in agriculture, and work experience acquired through growing up on a farm or through a small number of internships now available.
- Overall employment is projected to decline because of increasing productivity and consolidation of farms.
- Aquaculture and horticulture should provide better employment opportunities.
- Developments in value-added marketing and organic farming are making small-scale farming economically viable again.
Nature of the Work About this section Back to Top American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers direct the activities of one of the worldÂs largest and most productive agricultural sectors. They produce enough food and fiber to meet the needs of the United States and produce a surplus for export. Farmers and ranchers Responsibilities of farmers and ranchers range from caring for livestock, to operating machinery, to maintaining equipment and facilities. The size of the farm or ranch often determines which of these tasks farmers and ranchers will handle themselves. Operators of small farms usually perform all tasks, physical and administrative. They keep records for management and tax purposes, service machinery, maintain buildings, and grow vegetables and raise animals. Operators of large farms, on the other hand, have employees who help with the physical work that small-farm operators do themselves. Although employment on most farms is limited to the farmer and one or two family workers or hired employees, some large farms have 100 or more full-time and seasonal workers. Some of these employees are in nonfarm occupations, working as truck drivers, sales representatives, bookkeepers, and computer specialists. | |
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