Agriculture Managers

(NOC 0821)

in All Management

Agriculture managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations and functions of a farm, ranch or orchard. They manage farms of various sizes that may specialize in crops like wheat, apples or potatoes, or raise livestock like beef cattle, hogs or chickens. Managers in this group usually own and operate their own business.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 275 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Management

  • Estimate 2445 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5900 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$18.60

Median

$39.62

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$12,883

Median

$59,125

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$22.50

Minimum

$43.80

Median

$66.20

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Agriculture managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations and functions of a farm, ranch or orchard. They manage farms of various sizes that may specialize in crops like wheat, apples or potatoes, or raise livestock like beef cattle, hogs or chickens. Managers in this group usually own and operate their own business.

Job duties

Agriculture managers:

  • Manage the operations of a farm, ranch or orchard.
  • Decide the amount and kinds of crops to be grown and livestock to be raised.
  • Organize and coordinate planting, cultivating and crop harvesting, and the raising and breeding of livestock and poultry.
  • Hire and manage farm staff.
  • Create a marketing program.
  • Develop and keep financial and production records.
  • Buy farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed and other supplies.
  • Maintain farm machinery, equipment and buildings.
  • Carry Out farming duties.

Sample job titles

  • beekeeper
  • crop farmer
  • dairy farmer
  • farm manager
  • farmer
  • fruit grower
  • fur farmer
  • hog farmer
  • livestock farmer
  • poultry farm manager
  • vegetable grower
  • vineyard manager

Skills

  • You should be interested in farming and enjoy working outdoors. Physical stamina, patience, perseverance, and excellent observation skills are needed. You should be willing to try new farming methods. The ability to adapt to changing technologies is important for more efficient production. You must also be innovative and have good planning and problem-solving abilities. Mechanical skill is valuable.

Job requirements

  • A university degree or college diploma in agricultural management or other field related to crop or livestock production may be necessary.

Other considerations

  • Self-employment is common. Over half of the people in this group work more than 50 hours per week. Because most of these people rely on the agriculture industry for their livelihood, job prospects and earnings are likely to vary from year to year. Employment in this occupation is highly seasonal. Although many farm operators and managers on crop farms work from sunup to sundown during the planting and harvesting seasons, they often work full-time on the farm only six to seven months a year, and many have second jobs off the farm. Extensive farming experience, gained as a farm supervisor or specialized crop or livestock worker or by working on a farm, is usually necessary.

By the numbers

Quick look

2,330

employed in 2016

74.5%

employed full-time

69.2%

self employed

23.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
76.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
56.2

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
59.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

37.1%

Annapolis Valley

$20,584 median annual income
36.4%

North Shore

$11,634 median annual income
12.3%

Southern

$8,483 median annual income
7.1%

Cape Breton

$10,157 median annual income
7.1%

Halifax

$9,220 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

95.6%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

1.0%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

1.0%

Manufacturing

0.5%

Wholesale trade

0.5%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

65+

25.0%

55-64

22.0%

45-54

13.0%

35-44

9.0%

25-34

3.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

28.8%

High school

$17,541 median annual income
18.9%

College Diploma

$12,076 median annual income
17.8%

Less than high school

$10,759 median annual income
15.7%

Bachelor

$12,891 median annual income
11.8%

Trade Certification

$11,493 median annual income

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income
20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income
9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Agricultural Business and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on modern business and economic principles involved in the organization, operation, and management of agricultural businesses.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Agricultural Business Technology

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to carry out specialized support functions related to agricultural business offices and operations and to operate agricultural office equipment, software, and information systems. They include courses in basic agricultural business principles, office management, equipment operation, standard software, and database management.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Agriculture - General

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on agricultural research and production. They include courses in basic animal, plant, and soil science, animal husbandry and plant cultivation, soil conservation, and agricultural operations like farming, ranching, and agricultural business.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Animal Sciences

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding and husbandry of agricultural animals, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural animal products. They include courses in the animal sciences, animal husbandry and production, and agricultural and food products processing.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Crop Production

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to cultivate grain, fibre, forage, oilseed, fruits and nuts, vegetables, and other domesticated plant products. They include courses in basic principles of plant science, health, and nutrition as applied to particular species and breeds, soil preparation and irrigation, pest management, planting and harvesting operations, product marketing, and applicable issues of safety, regulation, logistics, and supply.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

International Agriculture

College or University Program

These programs apply agricultural management and scientific principles to the problems of global food production and distribution, and to the study of the agricultural systems of other countries. They include courses in agricultural economics, comparative agricultural systems, international agribusiness and law, third-world development studies and economic development, and global applications of climate, soil, water resources, ecological and environmental studies, and animal and plant sciences.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs apply scientific principles of controlling the animal and weed infestation of domesticated plant populations including agricultural crops, preventing/reducing economic loss, and controlling environmental pollution and degradation related to pest infestation and pest control measures. They include courses in entomology, applicable animal sciences, plant pathology and physiology, weed science, crop science, and environmental toxicology.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Plant Sciences

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products. They include courses in the plant sciences, crop cultivation and production, and agricultural and food products processing.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
Halifax, NS
Canadian Institute of Management - Maritimes
Various, NS
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
East Mountain, NS

Additional resources