The characteristics of a farm manager

I am a farm manager on two dairy farms just outside of Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal. We regularly have students who come to the farms to work in order to gain some practical, hands-on experience in farming. Not too long ago, I was approached by our current student to write a short report on the duties of a farm manager. As a young, passionate and self-made farmer, I jumped at the opportunity, not only to highlight the obvious requirements or duties of a farm manager, but also to touch on the underlying, less visible factors that play just as important a role as any other, in the hope that it may provide some encouragement to aspiring young farmers, and to let them know that there is hope for everyone in this country, especially those in the agriculture sector!

Duties

First and foremost, the duties listed below must be completed with a passion for agriculture, people and the country. Passion for these things is essential if they are to be carried out with precision and quality. The duties of a farm manager include:

1. Being able to communicate effectively with your staff and superiors. This requires diligence and may also require that you learn other languages.

2. Being able to keep records of hours worked by employees to make sure that they do not get underpaid.

3. Being able to assign tasks to staff in a way that is both beneficial and fair towards the employees, as well as productive for the company.

4. Being flexible and adaptable. You must be able to adapt to many different situations determined by different factors, which include varying weather conditions and staff availability, as well as finance, diesel, machinery, land, market fluctuations, water availability, and access to infrastructure.

5. Be an intermediary between upperlevel management and other employees.

6. Make sure all rules and regulations are followed in terms of employeremployee relations and quality control, and ensure that the product is produced in a sustainable environment. You must have respect for people and the land and its surroundings!

7. Practical experience is key, and while theoretical knowledge is important, it is not the be-all and end-all.

8. You must have patience, understanding and kindness. But you must also have discipline, positivity and enduring faith!

A farm manager must thus be a ‘Jack of all trades’ and a master of some. Duncan Patrick O’Gorman, via email

farm managers must have patience, understanding and kindness