Agricultural Service Contractors, Farm Supervisors, and Specialized Livestock Workers

(NOC 8252)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

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 Outlook

Average

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  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 40 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

  • Estimate 415 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1430 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Outlook: average, mostly balanced conditions in the labour market.

Size of the occupation: small, with infrequent job opportunities.

Demand: Growth is expected to create new opportunities in the next few years and retirements are expected t provide opportunities.

Work hours: full-time normally.

Some of the workforce is self-employed. Having the option to “work for yourself” may appeal to some individuals.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$17.00

Median

$25.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$23,199

Median

$68,120

Maximum

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,009

Minimum

$23,520

Median

$87,170

Maximum

About the job

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.

By the numbers

Quick look

255

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

31.4%

self employed

41.2%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
58.8%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
50

median age

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

14,665

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

20.0%

self employed

15.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.6

median age

Where will I likely work?

34.6%

Annapolis Valley

$22,347 median annual income
32.7%

North Shore

$21,877 median annual income
13.5%

Southern

$27,741 median annual income
9.6%

Cape Breton

N/A
9.6%

Halifax

N/A

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

70.5%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

9.1%

Educational services

6.8%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

4.5%

Public administration

4.5%

Manufacturing

What is the age of Employment?

27.0%

45-54

21.0%

55-64

15.0%

25-34

15.0%

35-44

12.0%

15-24

10.0%

65+

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

20.7%

45-54

19.8%

15-24

19.2%

55-64

16.2%

35-44

14.8%

25-34

Top levels of education

33.3%

High school

$23,194 median annual income
23.5%

Less than high school

$26,404 median annual income
15.7%

College Diploma

$40,989 median annual income
7.8%

Bachelor

N/A
5.9%

Master

N/A

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

35.7%

Less than high school

$23,463 median annual income
30.8%

High school

$19,301 median annual income
13.7%

College Diploma

$29,551 median annual income
13.4%

Trade Certification

$31,535 median annual income
4.4%

Bachelor

$17,956 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

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

Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to manage the selection, breeding, care, and maintenance of horses, and horse farms, stables, tracks and related equipment and operations. They include courses in animal science, care, and health, stable and track management, design and operation of facilities and equipment, and related issues like regulations, business management, and logistics.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Livestock Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs apply biological and chemical principles to the production and management of livestock animals and the production and handling of meat and other products. They include courses in animal sciences, range science, nutrition sciences, food science and technology, biochemistry, and related aspects of human and animal health and safety.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, 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

Trade Qualifier

Trades Program

The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency also offers a path to trades certification outside of a formal apprenticeship agreement with a qualified journeyperson. This option includes a set amount of required hours of related experience in the trade, passing a certification exam, and other criteria. Contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency for more details.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Farm Technician

Certificate of Qualification (Voluntary): This is a designated trade in Nova Scotia. Employers may require certification, but a certificate is not needed to legally work in this trade.

Regulating body:
Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
East Mountain, NS
Nova Scotia New Farmer
Nova Scotia, Canada