Types of Jobs on a Farm

There is something particularly gratifying about working outdoors and working with animals. Those who work on a farm have the opportunity to get their hands dirty, connect with the animals on the property, and stay in touch with the natural world. While work on a farm can be challenging, it’s also incredibly rewarding. 

If you are interested in pursuing the leading agriculture jobs, now is the right time to invest in your education and develop the skills required to get a job on the farm.

Top Farm Jobs

Farming anchors the agricultural industry, with the workers on the farm fueling the economy and ensuring that people have access to the food they need in order to survive and thrive. Those who work on a farm today often utilize modern farming practices that leverage the power of advanced technology to increase yields and improve the quality of food people consume.

The following are some of the top jobs on a farm for individuals drawn to working outdoors or working with animals:

Manager

Farm managers are responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of a farm. As a result, they may have the opportunity to work in the office as they focus on their business responsibilities, but they also spend time each day working outdoors and caring for the animals.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), primary responsibilities of a farm manager include:

• Creating and implementing the budget for farm operations.
• Supervising operations on the farm, such as planting, harvesting, or herding the animals.
• Managing employee schedules and ensuring there is adequate staffing for farm operations.
• Purchasing supplies and managing inventory for the farm.
• Maintaining farm equipment.
• Maintaining facilities and ensuring the farm infrastructure continues to support operations.
• Overseeing and managing product sales for the farm.

Farm managers assume a high-stakes role; they are responsible for managing the bottom line and ensuring that the farm is successful. They are required to establish both short-term and long-term goals for the farm, and they must actively work to stay on track with those goals. While one of the most challenging jobs on a farm, it is also one of the most fulfilling. Farm managers have a direct impact on day-to-day operations as well as the overall fate of the farm.

Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is another central component of the agricultural industry. According to Britannica, animal husbandry is defined as the practice of cultivating, managing, and producing domestic animals either for utility, sport, pleasure, or research. Those who work in animal husbandry sometimes focus on breeding, whereas others handle managing animals for their output (such as dairy farmers). 

Leading jobs on a farm in animal husbandry include:

• Veterinarians and veterinary assistants – Veterinarians are medical doctors who specialize in the care and treatment of animals — and veterinary assistants work to assist veterinarians with clinical tasks like diagnostic testing or evaluations. According to the BLS, veterinarians may work in private clinics and specialize in farm animal care, or they may be employed directly by a large farm operation to care for the animals on site. Both veterinarians and veterinary assistants work with animals daily.
• Livestock handlers – Livestock handlers are professionals who work on a farm and tend to animals that are produced for animal products. Livestock handlers on a farm typically deal with animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, chickens, ducks, or even bees. Their responsibilities include feeding and caring for the animals as well as herding, catching, and loading animals. Depending on the size of the farm operation for which they work, livestock handlers also may be responsible for monitoring animal populations to detect disease or identify injuries that may compromise the health of the animals or their output.
• Dairy farm workers – Dairy farm workers are responsible for managing the dairy-producing cow populations. In addition to feeding and caring for the cows on a daily basis, dairy farm workers manage the herd population and prepare the cows for milking.

Farm Accountant

Agricultural accounting is a specialized practice within the accounting field focused specifically on financial record-keeping for agricultural companies and organizations, including farms. An agricultural accountant, or farm accountant, is an accounting professional who manages a farm’s financial health and records. Farm accountants often work closely with farm managers to ensure operations are streamlined and that the farm has the opportunity and ability to generate revenue.

According to AGCareers.com, some primary responsibilities of farm accountants include:

• Performing accounting duties on the farm and maintaining financial records.
• Developing a pricing strategy for products sold by the farm.
• Collaborating with farm management to create and implement a budget.
• Analyzing and reporting on product costing in the industry to enhance the overall pricing strategy.
• Investing in and implementing advanced technology that can help streamline accounting operations on the farm.
• Analyzing operational costs and product performance against the farm budget in order to make adjustments as needed.

Irrigation Specialist

Irrigation specialists play a critical role within any farming operation. An irrigation specialist is responsible for a farm’s irrigation system — and ultimately, they work to ensure that the farm is adequately supplied with water. They tend to work closely with the farm manager or agronomist to develop a watering schedule that prioritizes sustainability while ensuring all plants and animals on the farm regularly receive the water they need.

The primary responsibilities of the irrigation specialist include:

• Designing and planning the irrigation system for the farm. The overall design plan will vary based on the size of the farm operations and the products the farm produces.
• Installing the irrigation system. The irrigation specialist must work to properly install the farm’s irrigation system so that it works properly throughout the year.
• Maintaining the irrigation system. The irrigation specialist will need to work closely with the farm manager in order to take a proactive approach to maintenance that prevents costly repairs down the line and extends the overall lifespan of the irrigation system.

Livestock Manager

Livestock managers are agricultural professionals who can enjoy working with animals while simultaneously taking a leadership position on a farm. Livestock managers are often directly responsible for overseeing a specific animal population on the farm, with some of their daily tasks including:

• Hiring, training, and supervising farm workers to perform daily tasks on the farm.
• Developing and overseeing breeding programs for specific animal populations on the farm.
• Creating and implementing a budget for operations related to specific animal populations on the farm.
• Assisting with the development of marketing strategies for the farm in order to promote its products to the larger community.

Livestock managers tend to report directly to the farm manager. They are key to the success of farming operations and can have a direct impact on the livelihood of the animals raised on the farm. It’s important to note that livestock managers spend most of their time outdoors (and often exposed to extreme weather), so this position is best reserved for those who don’t mind being out in the elements.

Agronomist

An agronomist is a farm professional who specializes in crop production, soil control, and soil management. Agronomists are sometimes referred to as crop scientists, as they rely heavily on scientific principles to develop experiments that allow farms to improve techniques for producing crops. At a time when the world population continues to grow exponentially and demand for fresh, nutritional and high-quality food is at an all-time high, agronomists are faced with the challenge of optimizing food production and improving the quality of products produced on a farm.

In modern farming practices, then, agronomists play a pivotal part in daily farm operations. They are often working to help the farm achieve its long-term goals in regard to sustainability and crop improvement. Agronomists take on a range of roles on a farm, with responsibilities including:

• Performing field research to evaluate the current conditions and collect data that can be used in upcoming experiments or tests.
• Working alongside soil and water conservationists to better understand the conditions on the farm and improve their own research practices.
• Coordinating with the farm manager to develop a strategic approach to crop production and management.
• Developing sustainable initiatives that can be implemented on the farm and help reduce resources used while streamlining production.

Hoping to Work on a Farm? Develop the Skills and Knowledge Required at Unity Environmental University

Whether you want to get into the mud and care for the animals or are hoping to focus on the business aspect of farming, you will find that the programs at Unity Environmental University equip you with the necessary skills set to pursue a variety of jobs on a farm. We’re proud to offer a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science degree as well as a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Business Management with a focus on Sustainable Food and Farming — both of which deliver a rigorous academic curriculum that prepares students for leading agriculture jobs. 
Discover how Unity’s robust online learning programs can provide you with the support and flexibility you need to balance your education with work and life.