Agricultural managers oversee the development of crops, animals and other items that can be sold to businesses or private consumers. They may manage the daily operations of commercial agricultural operations, such as nurseries and large farms, or they may look over farming operations for absentee landowners or farmers in need of management assistance. Although agricultural managers generally focus on the business of an agricultural facility, those who work in smaller businesses with few workers may have a greater scope of responsibility. Common duties include planning crops to maximize profit and minimize loss, creating budgets, hiring and overseeing production workers, supervising all farm maintenance, representing the facility in sales transactions and maintaining business records. They may run more than one agricultural operation and typically specialize in crop, horticultural, livestock, dairy or poultry production.

Tasks:

1. Forward planning
2. Making policy decisions
3. Budgeting and maintaining accurate financial records
4. Organising sales and purchases of livestock, farm equipment, crops and agricultural products
5. Handling paperwork and keeping administrative records
6. Recruiting, training/instructing and supervising farm workers
7. Making sure that work progresses satisfactorily and ensuring compliance with government regulations and health and safety standards
8. Keeping an up-to-date knowledge of pests and diseases
9. Ensuring that the farm is profitable and meets projected financial targets. Advertising and marketing farm products
10. Organising maintenance/repair of farm property, equipment and machinery

Key skills for Agricultural manager:

• Initiative and good communication
• Flexibility and team work
• Analytical skills
• IT skills
• Technical knowledge of the environment
• Marketing and sales skills

Average Salary (2014):

United Kingdom: £ 70,000 per year
United States of America: $66,399 per year
Australia: AU$54,770 per year

Qualifications and training required:

Traditionally, agricultural managers learn their job skills by working on a family farm, but it's becoming increasingly important to obtain formal training along with real-life experience. Prospective agricultural managers can pursue bachelor's degree programs in agriculture or related fields, such as farm management, agricultural economics and dairy science. Those who work with crops can learn about the types of crops, effective growing techniques and plant diseases, while managers who work with livestock or dairy may study veterinary science. Candidates without on-the-job training can take advantage of government programs that place aspiring managers with experienced farmers as interns or apprentices. Although it's not required, some countries offer agricultural managers to obtain farm manager certification.