Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers typically perform the following tasks: • Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data. • Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research. • Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques. • Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks. • Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire. • Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules. • Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries. • Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers. • Prepare reports required by state and federal laws. • Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work. • Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches. • Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities. • 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. • Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock. • Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production. • Provide information to customers on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns. • Analyze market conditions to determine acreage allocations. • Supervise the construction of farm or ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, drainage systems, wells, or roads. • Replace chemical insecticides with environmentally friendly practices, such as adding pest-repelling plants to fields.