Farm
Manager
Farm Worker
Rock Farmers (micro)
Salt Farmers
(micro)
Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
Farmers and farm managers undertake farming
operations to raise livestock and cultivate crops, fruit, vegetables and
other agricultural products. A farmer is a self-employed person who farms
their own land
or a leasehold property rented from a landowner. A farm
manager is an employee who is paid a salary to manage a farm or group of
farms. Farmers and farm managers may specialise in
enterprises such as cropping or horticulture. Others work with animals such
as beef or dairy cattle, sheep, pigs or poultry. Many farmers and farm
managers conduct mixed farming operations.
Farmers may work on large or small enterprises, or they may need to travel.
They spend much of their time working outdoors.
"Farmer" is a generic term and can be divided into the following sub-categories according to YourCareer.gov.au
Links show the jobs covered in On the Job (OTJ)
ANZSCO ID: 1220
Alternative names: Grazier (Sheep or Cattle Farmer),
Specialisations: Farmers and farm managers may specialise in enterprises such as cropping or horticulture. Others work with animals such as beef or dairy cattle, sheep, pigs or poultry. Many farmers and farm managers conduct mixed farming operations.
- Permaculturalist - cultivates plants and
crops through the use of sustainable practices and renewable resources to
minimise the impact upon local ecosystems while maximising natural
productivity.
-
Production Horticulturist - is involved in the cultivation and
maintenance of such produce as berries, nuts, fruit, vegetables and other
crops. These products can be exported as either fresh or dried produce.
Production horticulturists are involved in all of the associated production
processes.
- Cattle and Wheat Farmer, Sheep and Wheat Farmer
Knowledge, skills and attributes
- good at planning
- able to analyse and solve problems
- good organisational and supervisory skills
- good communication skills
- responsible approach and attitude
- enjoy working outdoors in all kinds of weather
- able to work both in a team and with limited social contact
- able to handle animals with confidence and patience
- mechanical aptitude
- aptitude for working with computers
Duties and Tasks
Farmers and farm managers may perform the following tasks:
- decide or advise on the kind of crops to be grown, the area to be sown or planted and the livestock to be raised
- plan the type of farming activities to be undertaken, estimate operating costs and order supplies such as seed, fertiliser, livestock fodder and farm equipment
- recruit and coordinate farm workers, and direct them on crop growing and livestock raising
- plant, spray, fertilise, harvest and sell crops
- handle, load and transport livestock for showing, slaughter or sale
- clean and maintain buildings, sheds, pens, equipment and facilities to maintain health standards and high quality of produce
- monitor animal health and seek veterinary advice when necessary
- make sure there is adequate food supply, water and protection from the weather for livestock
- make sure temperature, ventilation and lighting conditions are comfortable for livestock kept indoors
- observe and record produce quality or livestock body weight and condition, adjusting management or feeding programs if required
- manage the strategic direction of the business
- manage the financial aspects of the business by controlling income and expenses
- plan activities to minimise environmental degradation, monitor environmental effects of farming activities and repair existing damage through programs such as tree planting.
Working Conditions
Farmers may work on large or small enterprises, or they may need to travel
between a number of properties to manage activities. They spend much of
their time working outdoors.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You can work as a farmer or farm manager
without formal qualifications, although skills in farm management,
crop management and/or animal husbandry are considered essential.
You may learn these skills from an experienced farmer or farm
manager on a working farm or formally at an educational institution
such as a TAFE, university or an agricultural college. Courses may
focus on specific areas of agriculture or all aspects of farm
management.
You may like to consider a VOC qualification in agriculture,
agribusiness or rural operations. As subjects and prerequisites can
vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen
institution for further information. You may be able to study
through distance education.
You can also become a farmer or farm manager through a traineeship
in Agriculture, Agribusiness or Rural Operations.
Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year
10.
Alternatively, you can become a farmer or farm manager by completing
a degree in agriculture, agribusiness, animal science, agricultural
science or rural science. To get into these courses you usually need
to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed
knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, physics and
chemistry are normally required. Applicants may also be required to
attend an interview and have basic farm skills.
A number of universities in Australia offer degrees in these areas.
Employment Opportunities
Traditionally, farms in Australia have been owner operated and farmers have
been self-employed. Such properties have often been owned by the one family
over many decades.
As product markets have changed and new technologies have been introduced,
many properties have merged into bigger farms, often run by employed farm
managers. For all farmers and farm managers, the business of running a farm
has become more complex and sophisticated.
|
Did
You Know...
•Dairy farming in Australia started in 1788 with just nine cows arriving on the First Fleet. Since then, it’s grown into one of the country’s most important rural industries. •Today, there are about 3,800 dairy farms in Australia and around 1.3 million dairy cows. •These cows make about 8 billion litres of milk every year. That’s enough to fill over 3,000 Olympic swimming pools! That milk is then turned into all kinds of tasty products like yoghurt, butter, cheese, cream and of course, ice cream! •Milk and dairy products made in Australia are enjoyed both here and in other countries. Australia sends about 32% of its milk to trade partners like China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. •There were an estimated 2.1 million dairy cattle at 30 June 2023, down 4% from 2022. Victoria has the largest dairy herd with 1.2 million head, down 4.8% from the previous year. • The dairy industry continues to see challenging conditions with rapidly rising production costs and labour shortages leading to a general reduction in the dairy herd. This has coincided with a strengthening of milk prices across the country. •The most common dairy cow breed in Australia is the Holstein Friesian •Approximately 40,000 people are directly employed on dairy farms and in manufacturing plants (Source: Dairy Australia)
|
A
farm manager is an employee of a farmer who is paid to manage a farm or
group of farms. Depending on the type of farm, farm managers may be
required to perform a variety of tasks, including deciding on the crops
and livestock, planning farming activities, supervising other employees,
planting, spraying,
harvesting and selling crops, handling all aspects of livestock
production, recording all details (including financial) about the farm
and planning the strategic direction of the farm.
ANZSCO ID: 1220
Alternative names: Farm Overseer,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
-
planning skills
-
problem solving skills
-
work independently
-
computer skills
-
like working outdoors
-
communication skills
-
mechanical skills
-
enjoy working with animals
-
management and organisation skills
Kristin Pearce
Manager Piggery
https://youtu.be/LJc4cHj7HxU
Duties and Tasks
-
Prepare or assist with preparation of annual forecasts, budgets and other business plans
-
Recruit, supervise and ensure the ongoing training of farm staff
-
Maintain production and other farm records including the estimated operating costs, ordering of farm inputs, marketing of produce and monitoring of animal health and feeding requirements
-
Control costs of production in line with budget expectation
-
Produce crops and/or livestock to achieve volume, quality and cost objectives
-
Clean and maintain buildings, sheds, equipment and facilities to ensure health standards and high quality of produce
-
Ensure safe and effective handling of equipment
-
Undertake activities to minimise environmental degradation.
-
Monitor environmental effects of farming activities and repair existing damage
-
Plan and organise marketing and sale of produce to achieve high returns
Working conditions
A farm manager may have to work outside in all kinds of weather
conditions and
usually starts work early in the morning. They may also work long hours.
They need to be safety conscious when working with agricultural
machinery.
Tools and technologies
Farm managers need to be proficient with a wide range of farming
machinery and hand tools. It is also an advantage if they have the
ability to maintain or repair the machinery. Increasingly, farm managers
need to be proficient with computers and may be required to use
specialised farm management software.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a farm manager you usually need to complete a formal
qualification in agriculture, agribusiness, animal science or a related
field.
The Diploma of Agriculture is offered at TAFE Colleges and other
registered training organisations throughout Australia.
You can also complete a degree majoring in agribusiness, agricultural
science or animal science.
You can work as a farm manager without any formal qualifications,
however, skills in farm management, crop production or animal husbandry
are usually required. You may be able to gain these skills through work
experience in a related role.
| Did You
Know? ABC Landline 4 July 2020 Salt Farmers Unusual farming... Using seawater and plenty of time, a family-owned business 'farms' over 60,000 tonnes of salt a year. It is used for everything from cooking to grazing supplements to swimming pools. Landline - Port Alma salt farming https://youtu.be/_Ml_hmdQg5I Read the whole story (local Word doc) from selling ice blocks in the early 1900s to changing their business model in the 1940s when household fridges became commercially viable to harvesting salt for cattle lick blocks and fine dining salt. |
Farm hands assist farmers and graziers with growing
crops and feeding and raising livestock. Farm
hand work can be physically demanding. During
lambing, calving, mustering, harvesting or fruit picking time, farm
hands may be required to work long and irregular hours.
Accommodation may be provided by the employer on the property.
ANZSCO ID: 841611
Alternative names: General Farm Hand, Station Hand, Farmhand,
Specialisations:
-
Beef Cattle Farm Worker: ANZSCO ID: 841511: perform routine tasks on beef cattle farms, such as feeding, mustering and moving cattle, and assisting with animal husbandry.
-
Dairy Cattle Farm Hand/Worker - ANZSCO ID: 841512: works on farms mainly concerned with milk production. They round up cows, secure them in bails in the milking shed, wash udders with a solution of detergent and water, attach milking apparatus to udders and milk cows. They may also be involved in the breeding side of dairy farming.
-
Piggery Worker - ANZSCO ID: 841599: raises pigs for meat production or for sale as breeding stock. They breed sows with selected boars, work out feed formulas, inject serum to prevent disease and clean and disinfect buildings and pig pens. They also keep breeding and feeding records.
More detail of Piggery Attendant can be found here. -
Poultry Farm Hand - ANZSCO ID: 841514: works on farms concerned with egg production or raising poultry for sale. They may keep eggs in incubators, look after the newly hatched chickens and provide them with feed and water, and disinfect hatcheries to prevent disease. Poultry Farm Workers perform routine tasks on poultry farms, such as collecting eggs and placing them in incubators, providing poultry with feed and water, and disinfecting hatcheries to prevent disease.
More detail of Egg Collector can be found here. -
Sheep Farm Worker - ANZSCO ID: 841515 musters stock for branding, shearing, crutching, dipping and yarding for sale. They also maintain fences, bores, troughs and windmills.
More detail of Sheep Farm Worker can be found here
Knowledge, skills and attributes
-
enjoy practical work
-
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
-
able to undertake manual and heavy work
-
able to handle animals with confidence and patience
-
enjoy working outdoors
-
able to work for long hours and in all kinds of weather conditions
-
able to work both in a team and with limited social contact
-
mechanical aptitude
(Source:
ThePigSite)
Duties and Tasks
-
patrols, inspects and reports on the condition of livestock
-
provide livestock with feed and water
-
assist with maintaining the health and welfare of livestock
-
musters and drives livestock to milking and between paddocks to ensure sufficient feed is available
-
prepare milking machinery and assist with milking operations
-
washes and cleans udders, attaches milking machines and milks cows
-
cleans milking shed.
-
cultivate soil, sow crops and control weeds by slashing, rotary hoeing or chemical spraying
-
plant ground crops between rows of trees and bushes to control weeds and soil temperatures/span>
-
construct wire trellises (frames) to support vines, berries and fruit
-
ttake part in harvesting operations using tractors, harvesters, forklifts and hand tools
-
clean and sterilise farm equipment/span>
-
clear away animal waste and hose out operational areas
-
perform other tasks involved with the breeding and raising of livestock, such as shearing, dipping, branding, crutching, gelding, marking and assisting with artificial insemination
-
ride horses or motorbikes to muster sheep or cattle
-
maintain and repair farm buildings, bores, fences, machinery, troughs, windmills and other equipment
Working conditions
Farm hands may be required to work long and irregular hours. Accommodation may be provided by the employer on the property.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You can work as a farm hand without
formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training
on the job. You can also become a farm
hand through a traineeship in Agriculture.
Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year
10.
Additional Information
Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have
recognised, additional skills under the Agriculture, Horticulture
and Conservation and Land Management Training Package that will
expand your career opportunities within this industry.
Employment Opportunities
There are opportunities to progress quickly, once skills are obtained,
and to specialise in certain areas, including agribusiness enterprises.
Skilled farm hands may undertake further study and, in time, become farm
managers, enter into share-farming partnerships or purchase their own
farming operation. Others go on to work in businesses and government
agencies that service rural communities and farmers/farm managers.
| Did You
Know? ABC News 1 November 2018 'Rock farmers' digging up ancient, volcanic past for high-end home landscaping. Have you ever thought about the rocks used in landscaping and where they came from? This is the story of two people who farm rocks!  "There are tree changers and sea changers, but Carol and Ian Elliott's life began to rock when they bought an ancient volcanic mountain in Queensland. For 18 years the former landscapers have been unearthing the marvels created millions of years ago by cooling lava at Wolvi, north of Noosa. Stonemasons then use their rocks to make architectural statements in high-end homes and to build feature walls and waterfalls in the gardens of the rich. "I can remember when we were kids and helping dad on the farm, we would be throwing rocks into a gully out of the cultivation," Ms Elliott laughed. Now they earn a living from the basalt beauties they pull from the earth of their 'rock farm'. Listen to Carol & Ian Elliott's story https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/news/audio/201812/rural-qld-a-big-country-rock-harvesting.MP3 OR Read their story here (local Word doc) from ABC News |
Related Jobs or Work with these Jobs
(Jobs not linked
are currently being worked on)
Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA
[Farm
Manager];
WebArchive Only - CareersOnline [Farm
Hand;
Farmer/Manager;]
ABS [Farm
Manager; ]
CareerHarvest [Farm
Manager;]
WebArchive Only - CareerHQ [Farmer
or Farm Manager; ]
Your Career [Dairy
Cattle Farm Worker;
Beef Cattle Farm Worker;
Other Livestock Farm Worker; ]
