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Occupation Description

On an ownership or rental basis, operate farms, ranches, greenhouses, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural production establishments which produce crops, horticultural specialties, livestock, poultry, finfish, shellfish, or animal specialties. Include operators of cotton gins, packing houses, and other post-harvest operations. May plant, cultivate, harvest, perform post-harvest activities, and market crops and livestock; may hire, train, and supervise farm workers or supervise a farm labor contractor; may prepare cost, production, and other records. May maintain and operate machinery and perform physical work.

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State and National Wages

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

Location	Pay Period	2008
		10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$9.58	$12.88	$16.13	$36.65	$46.46
	Yearly	$19,900	$26,800	$33,600	$76,200	$96,600
South Carolina	Hourly	—	—	—	—	—
	Yearly	—	—	—	—	—

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: South Carolina Wage Information

State and National Trends

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation

National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: South Carolina Employment Security Commission

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Farmers and Ranchers.

Knowledge:

• Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills:

• Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities:

• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Source: Occupational Information Network: Farmers and Ranchers.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Farmers and Ranchers.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

• Assemble, position, and secure structures such as trellises, beehives, or fences, using hand tools.
• Assist in animal births, and care for newborn livestock.
• Breed and raise stock such as cattle, poultry, and honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure continued improvement in stock.
• Buy or sell futures contracts, or price products in advance of future sales so that risk is limited and/or profit is increased.
• Clean and disinfect buildings and yards, and remove manure.
• Clean and sanitize milking equipment, storage tanks, collection cups, and cows' udders, or ensure that procedures are followed to maintain sanitary conditions for handling of milk.
• Clean, grade, and package crops for marketing.
• Control the spread of disease and parasites in herds, by using vaccination and medication, and by separating sick animals.
• Demonstrate and explain farm work techniques and safety regulations to workers.
• Destroy diseased or superfluous crops.
• Determine types and quantities of crops or livestock to be raised, according to factors such as market conditions, federal program availability, and soil conditions.
• Evaluate product marketing alternatives, then promote and market farm products, acting as the sales agent for livestock and crops.
• Harvest crops, and collect specialty products such as royal jelly, wax, pollen, and honey from bee colonies.
• Herd cattle, using horses or all-terrain vehicles.
• Hire, train, and direct workers engaged in planting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, and marketing crops, and in raising livestock.
• Install and shift irrigation systems to irrigate fields evenly or according to crop need.
• Lubricate, adjust, and make minor repairs to farm equipment, using oilcans, grease guns, and hand tools.
• Maintain facilities such as fencing, water supplies, and outdoor housing and wind shelters.
• Maintain financial, tax, production, and employee records.
• Maintain pastures or grazing lands to ensure that animals have enough feed, employing pasture-conservation measures such as arranging rotational grazing.
• Manage and oversee the day-to-day running of farms raising poultry or pigs for the production of meat and breeding stock.
• Milk cows, using milking machinery.
• Monitor crops as they grow in order to ensure that they are growing properly and are free from diseases and contaminants.
• Negotiate and arrange with buyers for the sale, storage, and shipment of crops.
• Obtain financing from lenders to purchase machinery, fertilizer, livestock, and feed.
• Operate dairy farms that produce bulk milk.
• Perform crop production duties such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting.
• Plan crop activities based on factors such as crop maturity and weather conditions.
• Purchase and store livestock feed.
• Remove lower quality or older animals from herds and purchase other livestock to replace culled animals.
• Select and purchase supplies and equipment such as seed, fertilizers, and farm machinery.
• Select animals for market, and provide transportation of livestock to market.
• Set up and operate farm machinery to cultivate, harvest, and haul crops.
• Transport grain to silos for storage, and burn or bale any straw that is left behind.

Generalized Work Activities:

• Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Detailed Work Activities:

• administer injections
• administer medications or treatments
• analyze operational or management reports or records
• analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
• artificially inseminate livestock
• assign work to staff or employees
• breed animals to propagate stock or to develop new types
• conduct training for personnel
• demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct workers in planting, irrigating, cultivating, harvesting, or marketing
• disburse checks to satisfy accounts payable
• drive automobile, van, or light truck
• drive truck with capacity greater than 3 tons
• establish employee performance standards
• estimate materials or labor requirements
• estimate time needed for project
• evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
• examine animals to detect illness, disease, or injury
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• explain work orders, specifications, or work techniques to workers
• follow contract, property, or insurance laws
• follow horticulture irrigation techniques
• grade, classify, or sort products according to specifications
• hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
• identify crop characteristics
• identify fruit or vegetable or crops ready for harvest
• identify livestock characteristics
• inspect crops or fields
• inspect crops to determine quality
• inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
• inspect facilities to determine repair or replacement needs
• inspect growing environment
• judge soil conditions
• maintain or repair farm vehicles, machinery, or mechanical implements
• maintain production or work records
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• modify work procedures or processes to meet deadlines
• monitor animal care
• monitor forage plant growth
• monitor number or type of fish reared or harvested
• monitor worker performance
• motivate workers to achieve work goals
• negotiate business contracts
• observe fish or beds or ponds
• observe plants, flowers, shrubs or trees to ascertain condition
• operate agricultural equipment or machinery
• operate tractor with accessories or attachments
• order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
• orient new employees
• oversee execution of organizational or program policies
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• package goods for shipment or storage
• perform safety inspections in agricultural, forestry, or fishing setting
• plan development or production of hybrid plant varieties
• plan harvesting
• plan logging operations
• plan or organize work
• plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
• prepare or maintain employee records
• prepare reports
• preserve, cure, or cold store meat, poultry or fish
• recognize disease or parasites in animals
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve logging operation problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule employee work hours
• slaughter animals, fish, or poultry
• study production records
• transport passengers or cargo
• understand second language
• use animal disease control techniques
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use fish culturing techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques

Source: Occupational Information Network: Farmers and Ranchers.

Tools and Technology

No Tools and Technology information is available for the selected occupation. Try the Tools and Technology section to view other occupations with Tools and Technology information.

Education and Training

Occupation: Farmers and Ranchers
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Long-term on-the-job training
Related Instructional Programs:

• Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
• Agricultural Animal Breeding
• Agricultural Business and Management, General
• Agricultural Production Operations, General
• Agricultural Production Operations, Other
• Agronomy and Crop Science
• Animal Nutrition
• Animal Sciences, General
• Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
• Aquaculture
• Crop Production
• Dairy Husbandry and Production
• Dairy Science
• Farm/Farm and Ranch Management
• Greenhouse Operations and Management
• Horticultural Science
• Livestock Management
• Ornamental Horticulture
• Plant Nursery Operations and Management
• Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
• Plant Sciences, General
• Poultry Science
• Range Science and Management

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.workforcesouthcarolina.com/provider/

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements

• Agricultural Inspectors
• Farm and Home Management Advisors
• Farm, Ranch, and Other Agricultural Managers
• Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
• Fishers and Related Fishing Workers

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