Engineering

Synopsis

A farmer uses modern agricultural techniques to grow food and cash crops. Their duties include operating and maintaining farm equipment, managing irrigation systems and planning future planting and harvest cycles in a changeable environment.

Key Responsibilities

Farmers produce a wide range of crops and animal products under a wide variety of conditions. Most farm jobs require strenuous physical labor, journeyman-level technical work on equipment and a knowledge of computer systems and business management to acquire farm credit and determine market-rate crop prices. Other duties farmers perform include:

1. Drafting a farm budget and securing financing for planting, growing and harvest seasons
2. Performing general labor outdoors and moving heavy loads
3. Operating heavy equipment that may have to be serviced in the field on short notice
4. Adhering to USDA and FDA food handling regulations to ensure a food-safe product
5. Interacting with suppliers and vendors to manage farm inventory and overhead
6. Tending animals in a safe and humane manner, using best practices to humanely slaughter animals and process food products, such as meat, dairy and produce
7. Tracking input and output costs to monitor farm efficiency and balance costs
8. Plotting out and implementing efficient irrigation and fertilizer systems, tending growing crops and keeping farm buildings and equipment in serviceable condition

Qualifications / Minimum Requirements

Farming