Despite what any city slicker might say, farming is a growing profession. The increased importance attributed to the field of farm management could be evidence of this fact. Choosing the best farm management jobs typically means selecting an occupation from a dynamic field that harbors many possible vocational opportunities. You will have to determine what kind of work you are qualified for, what kind of work interests you, and which type of farm management jobs are on the market.
Farm management usually addresses all of the organizational aspects of a farm and its operation. The farm manager typically looks to ensure the success of the farm by emphasizing maximum productivity and efficiency, environmental friendliness, and the welfare of the farm workers and animals. Since farming depends on a lot of factors outside of the farmer manager’s power, be they seasonal changes or economic turmoil, an effective farm manager attempts to balance uncontrollable events with a series of strategies that best addresses each challenge. Each type of farm proposes its own unique challenges, and a command of the precise issues at stake in a particular situation is necessary to the farm’s potential success.
To the degree that there are many different types of farms, there are different types of farm management jobs. A small farm will tend to place less emphasis on the economic side of things, and the farm manager also might work as a physical laborer, helping with the daily activities on the farm. If the economic side of farm management does not interest you as much, and you prefer to be involved in a more active and traditional way of life, these types of farm management jobs may be for you.
On larger farms, the work of the farmer manager generally is of an economic nature. This can mean that you will spend very little time on the farm as you work mostly from an office. Such farm managers may be more concerned with the pricing and selling of the goods the farm produces. At harvest time, these farm managers usually have to make critical decisions about where crops should be sold in order to secure the best profit for the farm. If the business and executive aspect of farming is of interest to you, these types of farmer management jobs will give you the most satisfaction.