Farm and Ranch Managers

• Inspect orchards or fields to determine crop maturity or condition or to detect disease or insect infestation.
• Direct crop production operations, such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, or harvesting.
• Monitor activities such as irrigation, chemical application, harvesting, milking, breeding, or grading to ensure adherence to safety regulations or standards.
• Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches.
• Plan crop activities based on factors such as crop maturity or weather conditions.
• Inspect farm or ranch equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Obtain financing necessary for purchases of machinery, land, supplies, or livestock.
• Direct the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle, poultry, or honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement.
• Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock.
• Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production.
• Evaluate marketing or sales alternatives for farm or ranch products.
• Determine types or quantities of crops or livestock to be raised, according to factors such as market conditions, federal programs or incentives, or soil conditions.
• Prepare budgets or financial reports for farm or ranch operations.
• Demonstrate or explain working techniques, practices, or safety regulations to farm or ranch workers.
• Hire, train, or supervise workers engaged in planting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, or marketing crops, or in raising livestock.
• Analyze market conditions to determine acreage allocations.
• Select or purchase machinery, equipment, livestock, or supplies, such as seed, feed, fertilizer, or chemicals.
• Inspect farm or ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, or roads, ordering repair or maintenance activities, as needed.
• Supervise the construction of farm or ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, drainage systems, wells, or roads.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Farm and Ranch Managers.

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Farm and Ranch Managers.