Farmer Career Guide

Becoming a farmer will require some education in agriculture and a certification from the ASFMRA is encouraged. Most farmers take over family businesses, but starting your own is an option if you have the finances and business know-how.

QUICK FACTS
Average Salary
$83,770
annually
Career Outlook
2%
decline through 2033
Certifications/Licenses
None
No required certifications
Education/Training
Under 2 Years
Agricultural certificate

Do you dream of living off the land and getting in touch with your inner pioneer? If so, farming might be for you! With some hard work and dedication, it is entirely possible to become a working farmer in today’s world. All it takes is some basic agricultural education and lots of passion.

What Does a Farmer Do?

Farming is a complex, challenging, and rewarding career. You’ll find many types of farming, and each type requires specialized expertise and skills. Farmers raise crops, livestock, fish, poultry, dairy cows, honeybees, trees, ornamental plants, and more.

All farmers must maintain equipment and facilities specific to their operations. The daily demands of running a farm vary according to the business focus, but generally, they divide into crop and livestock farming duties.

Farmers might sell their products at a local farmers market, to a wholesaler, or at their own facility.

Crop farm

Most crop farms are in California and the Midwest, but you can find crop farms throughout the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the most common crops are corn, cotton, fruit, legumes, nuts, rice, soybeans, vegetables, and wheat. Crop farmers’ responsibilities include:

  • Preparing land for crop planting
  • Caring for crops throughout the growing cycle
  • Harvesting crops
  • Storing crops
  • Selling crops to processing companies or at market

Most farmers and farm managers work long hours. Crop farm work is seasonal, so hours will fluctuate depending on the time of year. Even after farmers harvest the crops, they need to plan for the next season and repair equipment.

Livestock farm

California, Texas, the Midwest, and the Southeast are centers for livestock farms and ranches. The most common types of U.S. livestock are chickens, cattle, dairy cows, pigs, and turkeys. Common types of specialty livestock include fish, shellfish, bees, rabbits, mink, ducks, sheep, and goats.

A livestock farmer’s duties vary greatly depending on the type of animal and its purpose. An apiary (bee) farmer’s daily life is much different than that of a cattle rancher. Livestock farmers need highly specialized knowledge and skills in humanely raising and caring for their animals. Typical duties include:

  • Feeding and sheltering
  • Raising and storing animal feed crops
  • Managing animal waste
  • Administering vaccinations and medications
  • Monitoring for diseases
  • Breeding and assisting in birthing
  • Marketing and selling animals or the products they produce
  • Transporting animals

If working in agriculture is appealing and you are a water lover, did you know professional fisherman is a career option? Yep, really!

Farmer Education Costs

The USDA defines a farm as selling at least $1,000 of agricultural or livestock products a year. So, by this definition, you need very little education or training to become a “farmer” if you’re going to grow produce in a small plot and sell it at a local stand. However, if you want to become a successful career farmer, you will need education, training, and experience.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that most people entering farming today have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field of study. The average cost of education is between $20,000 and $120,000. Farming degree and certification programs focus on topics like:

  • Agricultural business
  • Agricultural economics
  • Agricultural technology
  • Agronomy (the science of crop production and soil management)
  • Animal nutrition
  • Animal science
  • Crop science
  • Dairy science
  • Farm and ranch management
  • Farm business management
  • Fishing and fisheries
  • Fruit science
  • Horticulture
  • Plant science
  • Sustainable agriculture

Common types of educational programs for prospective farmers include:

Bachelor’s degree: A 4-year bachelor’s degree in agriculture usually focuses on plant, animal, and soil management as well as managing the business side of farming.  Many graduates have a particular focus in:

  • Agricultural technology and business management
  • Soil and plant science and technology
  • Livestock science and management
  • Pest control

Associate’s degree: Many 2-year associate’s degree programs focus on business skills specific to agriculture, farm equipment operation, and animal husbandry. These degree programs typically involve hands-on experience.

Certification: The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) offers certification courses on-farm management and agricultural consulting. The USDA also provides a library of other certification courses.

Continuing education courses: If you have a degree in another field or would like to supplement your education, you can take continuing education classes either online or in person. Schools, cooperative extensions, and government agencies offer a wealth or farm-related courses. The USDA maintains a library of supplemental educational resources for prospective farmers.

Starting Your Own Farm

While many farmers will take jobs at an existing farming business, there is also plenty of opportunities to start your own. Beginning Farmer has some great resources for starting a farm, so definitely check that out.

But, below is a brief overview.

Once you have the education and training, how do you start your farm? Although every farm has different needs in terms of equipment, staff, livestock, and crops, they all require an investment of time and money.

According to the USDA, about 25% of all farming businesses are new, with less than ten years of experience. If a farm grosses less than $350,000 per year, it qualifies as a small farm by the USDA.

If you’re considering starting a farm, you’re in good company.

Below are a few essential steps to starting a successful farm.

Create a business plan

First and foremost, a farm is a business. Craft a plan that will detail such operating details as:

  • Operating budget
  • Profit forecast
  • Land costs
  • Crops and animals
  • Equipment and facilities
  • Staff
  • Insurance and maintenance costs
  • Cost of production, transportation, and marketing
  • Emergency, disaster, and weather-related downturn plans
  • Determine your legal structure

Decide on Type Of Farming

What type of farming are you interested in doing?

Do you want to farm specific vegetables? Or how about a dairy farm?

Maybe you just want to raise livestock!

You can even think deeper and look into organic farming as well. There are resources from USDA National Organic Program so you can learn more about what organic farms need to do to be considered organic.

Once you decide what kind of farmer you want to be – then it is time to start planning.

Find land

Many new farmers find that it’s better to lease land than buy it outright. Leasing allows new farmers to fine-tune their business before investing in property. It reduces financial risk and requires less of an initial investment.

If you would prefer buying land for your farm, here are some factors to consider:

  • Access to a water source: Regardless of what type of farm you have, you’ll need access to a reliable source of water.
  • Quality of soil: This is particularly important if you are starting a crop farm. Get a soil test through a professional company or a local agricultural extension service.
  • Infrastructure and transportation routes: What buildings and facilities does the land need to support? Does the farm have easy access to roads?
  • Land’s proximity to sales channels: Is the property close to where you will be selling or transporting your products?

Secure financing

Most small farmers need help financing their operations. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) earmarks funds annually to help new farmers finance their businesses. The FSA offers several financing opportunities for beginning farmers, including:

The FSA also offers funds to underserved populations interested in entering farming, including minority and female farmers and Native Americans. The USDA also provides special financing for veterans of the armed services, who account for about 11% of farmers.

For more information on starting a farm, Cornell University offers a free course on becoming a farmer.

How Much Do Farmers Make?

Farmer’s salaries vary wildly based on what they produce, product price fluctuations, and weather conditions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a farmer is about $83,770.

Farmer Job Outlook

It is predicted that farmers will see a 2% decline through through 2033.

Increased efficiencies in farming and the trend toward larger but fewer farms mean fewer jobs. However, despite the decline, the BLS projects about 81,000 openings for farmers annually.

However, people who pursue farming will find ample opportunities for success. The global population will be close to 10 billion by 2050, and an intense focus exists on finding ways to feed people. The U.S. farming industry is at the forefront of developing technological advances to produce more food in less time.

Also, BLS sees opportunities for small farms that sell directly to consumers through online stores and farmer’s markets. Furthermore, niche farming is showing promise. For example, the USDA reported that organic products now account for more than 4% of total U.S. food sales and projects that the cannabis farming market will grow by 14% by 2027.