How to become a manager in agriculture
Official title: Managers in agriculture
Also called: Farm manager, Hatchery manager, Sow farm manager, Vineyard manager, Dairy farm manager, Grain farm manager, Cereal farm manager, Poultry farm manager, Rancher, Apiarist, Beekeeper, Fur farmer
Managers in agriculture plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations and functions of farms. They are responsible for growing crops, raising and breeding livestock, poultry and other animals, marketing farm products and enhancing farms' sustainability through, notably, the implementation of new technologies. They usually own and operate their own establishment.
Main tasks
- Manage the overall operations of a farm, ranch or orchard
- Determine the amount and kinds of crops to be grown and livestock to be raised
- Organize and co-ordinate planting, cultivating and crop harvesting activities; raising and breeding of livestock and poultry
- Hire and manage farm personnel
- Establish a marketing program
- Develop and keep financial and production records
- Purchase farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed and other supplies
- Maintain farm machinery, equipment and buildings
How to become one
Extensive farming experience, obtained as a farm supervisor or specialized crop or livestock worker or by working on a farm, is usually required. A university degree or college diploma in agricultural management or other field related to crop or livestock production may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $58,500 a year The middle half earn $42,003 to $78,000.
- About 122,400 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 109,900 are projected by 2033. (-10.2%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a manager in agriculture?
Extensive farming experience, obtained as a farm supervisor or specialized crop or livestock worker or by working on a farm, is usually required. A university degree or college diploma in agricultural management or other field related to crop or livestock production may be required.
How much does a manager in agriculture earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $58,500 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $42,003 to $78,000.
Is a manager in agriculture a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to fall 10% by 2033, from about 122,400 to about 109,900 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a manager in agriculture?
Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03