Farmer (Owner)

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Work Tasks

• Plan, till, plant, fertilize, spray, and harvest crops
• Package, load, and sell crops
• Feed and care for farm animals and keep barns and pens clean and in good repair
• Keep money and inventory records of farm crops and animals
• Work outdoors in fields and indoors in barns and other farm buildings as well as in offices
• Work with crops, livestock, planting and harvesting schedules, marketing and financial records, computers, feed, seed, farm equipment, and workers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $40,000 average per year ($19.25 per hour)
• A small occupation (3,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (0.8% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: Years of experience on a farm
• Employers Prefer: A 4-year degree in agribusiness and an apprenticeship
• Skills/Courses: College courses include accounting, computer skills, math, biology, agronomy, dairy science, agricultural economics and business, horticulture, crop and fruit science, animal science, agricultural production, marketing, and economics.