Farm management careers are an excellent way to make a living. The agricultural business is booming, which makes farm manager employment relatively easy to obtain.

While some people train for farm management positions through growing up on a farm, there are many other ways to get training for farm management jobs. Focus on your own particular learning style and you'll begin to see what type of education is best for you.

Training for farm management jobs allows you to:

1. Get your foot in the door. It's true that many farm manager jobs go to those who were raised on the farm. This type of experience makes a big difference. However, if you grew up in the city or suburbs, a solid education in farm management will help you get your first job.

2. Advance your career. If you've been working as a farm hand, the right education can help you start a farm management career.

3. Expand your knowledge. It's impossible for anyone to know all of the details about agricultural management jobs. Through continuous education, you can learn the latest techniques that can help improve the farm.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a college degree for the best farm manager positions

A college degree can open many doors and the candidate that has a degree may be more likely to get a better position. Look for colleges that offer agricultural degrees.

I recommend: Universities.com offers a list of some of the colleges that offer degrees in agricultural. College agricultural programs typically focus on the types of crops that are native to their particular environment. For example, the agricultural program at the University of Hawaii will focus on the tropical environment whereas the Crop Sciences program at the University of Illinois will focus on more mild climates.

Use an internship to receive training for jobs in farm management

Internships are a great way to gain the experience you need to succeed in farm management. They'll provide the type of hands-on training that you can't always receive in a classroom.

I recommend: Search for internships through the US Department of Agricultural or apply directly to a program such as the one offered by the Noble Foundation.

Look for shorter seminars to improve skills for your farm manager career

If you don't have the time to attend school full time, or you simply want to update some of your skills, a short farm seminar may be just what you're looking for.

I recommend: The Farm School offers a practical training course for those that are interested in farming. You may also be interested in Ecovillage, which focuses on organic farming and natural building techniques.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want a successful farm manager career, make sure that you take courses in business as well as agriculture. Even though the focus of a farm is on raising animals or growing food, it's important to make wise business decisions as well.

Farm management jobs are essential in this day and age. As fewer people take up farming, the farms that do exist are becoming larger to accommodate the worldwide need for food and energy.

In most cases, farm manager positions provide steady work. A good manager knows how to run a farm and how to manage employees. The competition for agricultural management jobs can be strong because many farms are increasing productivity or merging with other nearby farms, eliminating some jobs in the process.

If you want to be eligible for farm management employment:

1. Get some hands-on work experience. Most people who get farm manager jobs grew up on a farm. If you grew up in the city, but want to manage a farm, you need to have some experience in the day-to-day activities that make a farm run smoothly.

2. Take some college courses. Farm land management jobs typically favor experience over education, but an educational background combined with experience is sure to make you stand out.

3. Schedule an informational interview with people who already have farm management careers. This will give you a chance to ask about the job and decide if it's right for you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get ready for farm management jobs with ranch work

Experience is key if you want to go into farm management, but if you've never lived on a farm, you may be at a loss for how to gain this experience. Many ranches hire seasonal workers. This can be a great way to get your boots dirty and see if jobs in farm management might be right for you.

I recommend: Check out the listings of ranch jobs on CoolWorks.com, a website that specializes in listing jobs that are "cool." At Dude Ranch Jobs, you can upload your resume and basic information to make it easier to apply for jobs as they become available.

Search for farm manager job openings

While some farms may let candidates know about farm management jobs through word of mouth in the local area, many others post their available positions online. This is especially convenient for those who are willing to move in order to find work. You can easily search for jobs across the country.

I recommend: AGRA Placements, Ltd. is a search firm that focuses on jobs in the agriculture industry. You may also be able to find the job that you are looking for at Simply Hired.

Teach others the skills needed for farm management careers

Farm work, even managerial positions, can be physically demanding. If you want to stay in the business, but not have to do so much physical labor, you can teach others the skills that they need to successfully run a farm.

I recommend: The National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization lists teaching jobs available throughout the country. Academic Keys allows you to search for agriculture teaching positions at colleges and universities. Check out their featured listings in the left column.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always stay up-to-date with agricultural technology. Companies frequently make advances in the technology and those who want to keep their farm management positions would do well to stay current.

Farm management jobs education and training will help ensure that you get the agriculture jobs that you want. It's easy to find farm manager employment when you can prove that you have the skills necessary to excel in the job.

People who want farm manager jobs need to know details about farming as well as management techniques. Large farms may have thousands of employees and a good manager can take care of everyone's needs while still running the business.

It's a good idea to look for farm management jobs education and training if:

1. You want to advance in your farm manager career. If you have the right level of training, your farm owner may be more likely to promote you to a higher position.

2. You want to become more efficient. Training for farm manager positions will teach you new techniques that can make things run more smoothly on the farm.

3. You want to develop a solid knowledge of farming and management. Those who are successful in farm management careers are the ones that have a deep understanding of the principles of management as well as the day-to-day operations on the farm.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a college degree for the best jobs in farm management

There's no doubt that holding a college degree will help you to gain employment as a farm manager. Look for colleges that have special programs in agriculture for the best experience.

I recommend: The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Iowa State University can help teach you the techniques you need to get great farm management positions. Cornell University also has an excellent program in agriculture and management.

Take an internship to help prepare for farm management positions

It takes hands-on experience to learn about the day-to-day operations on a farm. Owners won't want to hire you to manage the farm if you don't have this type of experience, so look for an internship that will help teach you the ropes.

I recommend: Sap Bush Hallow Farms offers internships that will teach you about every aspect of working on a farm. If you are interested in sustainable or organic farming, search for internships at the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website.

Consider training for organic farm manager job openings

Consumers are increasingly shifting towards organic produce. Organic farming requires knowledge of different types of techniques, so it's a good idea to receive this training. You'll be ahead of the curve.

I recommend: At the Frog Belly Farm in Boulder you can take a full-time internship that teaches all aspects of organic farming. Michigan State University offers a certificate program in organic farming.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Specializing in a particular area of farming may make it easier for you to get agricultural management jobs. For example, you could specialize in organic farming or livestock.