The many types of farm managers

Depending on the size of your farming operations, you are most likely going to need a farm manager, or two. Choosing a person who will represent your interest at the farm is a difficult task which must be done with diligence. Farm managers are employed to manage and carry out duties associated with the day-to-day and long-term management of large commercial farms. It is their responsibility to ensure that the farm runs efficiently and profitably. It is against this background that farmers must be specific when looking for a farm manager because they come in different types and shapes.

Crop producers

Whilst crop farming is a profession, there are some people who naturally like crops. They are passionate about crops and when talking about farming with them they just think of crops. Such people should be hired by farmers who are also into crop production.

Most of them refer to themselves as crop scientists because they would have studied crop science. Crop scientists work to increase the yield of field crops by improving farming methods and developing new plant strains. Scientists generally specialise in farming production or crop development. Some specialise in particular crops, such as grains or cotton. Others in weed control.

Usually most of these have experience in crop science. Researchers work for government agencies, universities, and private companies, such as seed suppliers and fertiliser manufacturers. Those who work for universities generally have teaching duties as well. These crop scientists are quality control inspectors who grade seed, grain and produce according to government regulations.

Crop scientists also work as field representatives for food processing and distributing companies. As field representatives, they meet with farmers and farm cooperatives to set prices for their produce.

Representatives may also advise growers on ways to improve the amount they produce or the quality of their product.

Agronomist

This is the broader sense of the term farm manager. After studying agronomy, graduates usually become the most adaptive form of farm management. Whilst they are primarily focused on budgets and profitability, agronomists may also develop interest in livestock or crop production or even both.

Agronomists can specialise in several different areas, including crop management, soil and water conservation, sustainable development and research. An agronomist’s specific duties vary based on their employer, but standard responsibilities include: conducting crop experiments in a lab.

Irrigation systems

Farming is water. There are some who acquire tertiary education in the management of the water resource at the farm. Usually, they are hired on a part-time basis, and are more needed at the set-up stage.

Irrigation specialists design and install irrigation systems. In addition, they inspect, audit, adjust and repair the systems to ensure they perform at maximum efficiency and conserve water.

Technology has played an increasingly important role in smart watering systems with computerised controls becoming common and zoned systems now used to balance landscape needs. In fact, with such advances and with the important responsibilities these professionals have in safeguarding the nation’s water supply, many locations now require irrigation tasks to be performed by licensed irrigation specialists.

Livestock specialist

If a farmer is invested in livestock, it is always encouraged to look for a manager who has done a livestock production qualification.

There are intrinsic aspects of this field that could affect your farming as a business. These include disease prevention and treatment. A livestock trading account is a guiding tool in this field, and very few agriculture professionals can prepare one.

Livestock specialists perform regular livestock care, including feeding, cleaning, moving cattle, assisting with health testing and veterinary treatments and other routine tasks.

Whilst there are many facets of the farm management profession, in Zimbabwe the above mentioned stand out and are key when hiring the right person for the job.

It is important to remember that there are farm managers who specialise in logistics and marketing, it is their area of speciality whilst there are also those who are so keen on storage of the produce.

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