Agricultural Service Contractors, Farm Supervisors, and Specialized Livestock Workers

Nature of work

Agricultural service contractors provide agricultural services like livestock and poultry breeding, soil preparation, crop planting, crop spraying, cultivating, or harvesting. Farm supervisors and farm technicians oversee the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers and complete general farm duties. Specialized livestock workers carry out or supervise feeding, health, and breeding programs on dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, swine, and other livestock farms. Contractors may be self-employed.

Job duties

Agricultural service contractors:

• Provide agricultural livestock services like artificial insemination, livestock spraying or shearing or disinfecting pens, barns, or poultry houses.
• Provide agricultural crop services like plowing, irrigating, cultivating, spraying, or harvesting.
• Help develop and implement farm safety and bio-security procedures.
• Hire and train workers.
• Negotiate the terms of services to be provided.
• Maintain financial and operational records.
• May participate in the delivery of services or in the use of machinery and equipment.

Farm supervisors:

• Coordinate and supervise the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers.
• Supervise and oversee breeding and other livestock-related programs.
• Supervise and oversee growing and other crop-related operations.
• Develop work schedules and establish procedures.
• Make sure farm safety and bio-security procedures are followed.
• Maintain quality control and production records.
• May complete general farm duties.

Specialized livestock workers:

• Create feeding programs.
• Implement pasture or pen breeding programs.
• Follow safety and bio-security procedures.
• Recognize and treat certain livestock health problems.
• Maintain livestock performance records.
• Select livestock for sale.
• Train horses.
• Complete general farm duties.
• May supervise general farm workers.

Sample job titles

• agriculture foreperson
• crop dusting service contractor
• farm supervisor
• farm technicain
• hog farm supervisor
• livestock attendant
• poultry farm foreperson
• vineyard workers foreperson
• weed control service contractor - agriculture

Skills

• manual dexterity and mechanical aptitude
• leadership, time management, and communication
• cultural sensitivity is important
• problem-solving skills
• flexible and ability to prioritize work
• ability to adapt to changing technologists and willing to try new processes and methods
• observant, innovative, and resourceful
• fitness and stamina
• a genuine interest in farming

Job requirements

• Agricultural service contractors usually need a university degree, college diploma, or industry courses in agricultural studies and several years of experience related to the service offered.
• Contractors providing services like artificial insemination and pesticide application may require training certificates and provincial licensing.
• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers may require a college certificate or other specialized training in agriculture or livestock husbandry.
• A course or certificate in first aid may be required.
• Farm Technician Training through a 3,600-hour apprenticeship program with two apprenticeship levels: to become an apprentice you first need to have a job - enter an apprenticeship agreement either directly through an employer or after graduating from a college-level pre-apprenticeship program; learn on the job, mentored by a certified journeyperson who signs off on skills in a logbook.
• Trade Qualifier option, 5,400 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for farm technicians is voluntary in Nova Scotia.

Other considerations

• Setting: outdoors in all kinds of weather. They work in agricultural settings like fields, barns, livestock housing, greenhouses, packhouses, coolers, maintenance facilities, and farm shops.
• Farm safety and accident prevention are a priority regardless of setting.
• Work hours: long hours, especially in summer and during busy times like harvesting and calving. Many farm jobs require weekend work. Employment in this group can be highly seasonal.
• Workers may be permanent or part-time employees. The demand for farm staff has increased due to influences like changes in technology, smaller family sizes, and increases in the amount of land or livestock needed for a viable business.
• Farming is physically and mentally demanding work. Automation has made farm work less tedious and physically demanding, but workers still need to do repetitive manual labour.
• Winter can be particularly tiring for those employed in the livestock industry.
• Risks: risk of injury when working with machinery and tools.
• Farm technicians may function in a supervisory role with diverse groups of people – cultural sensitivity is key.
• Farm supervisors or technicians may specialize in equipment operation, crop production, livestock production, or product storage and handling.
• Specialized livestock workers usually specialize in one type of farm animals like beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, or swine.
• For some occupations in this group, Hazards H2 (biological agents) may also apply.
• Apprentices usually earn a percentage of the journeyperson (fully qualified) rate. This percentage increases as each level of the apprenticeship program is completed.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

Contacts