Farmer / Farm Manager Career Profile

What the role involves

Farmers and farm managers oversee the practical, financial and operational side of food and fibre production. A farmer may run their own land or a leased property, while a farm manager is usually employed to manage a farm, property or group of farms on behalf of an owner or business.

The work can involve crop planning, livestock management, machinery, staff supervision, budgeting, contractor management, seasonal planning, biosecurity, environmental compliance and responding to changing weather, markets and production conditions.

Typical employers and structures

Farmer and farm manager roles in Australia may be found with:

• family-owned farms and grazing properties
• corporate agribusinesses
• mixed farming operations
• broadacre cropping farms
• livestock, dairy, poultry or intensive animal production businesses
• horticulture, fruit, vegetable, vineyard or nursery operations
• contract farming and farm management businesses
• government-owned or leased agricultural properties
• remote stations and large-scale regional enterprises

Key tasks

• planning and coordinating farm operations across seasons
• managing crop, livestock, horticulture or mixed-farming production
• supervising staff, contractors and seasonal workers
• maintaining machinery, vehicles, fencing, irrigation and farm infrastructure
• monitoring animal health, pasture, soil, water use and crop condition
• preparing budgets, production plans, records and compliance documents
• coordinating harvesting, transport, storage, sales or supply chain activities
• managing biosecurity, workplace safety and environmental obligations
• making decisions about productivity, sustainability, risk and long-term farm performance

Skills and qualities

Farming and farm management suit people who are practical, resilient and able to balance day-to-day work with bigger business and environmental decisions. Useful qualities include:

• strong practical farming knowledge
• business, budgeting and planning skills
• leadership and staff management ability
• problem-solving in changing weather, market and production conditions
• understanding of machinery, infrastructure and farm systems
• knowledge of soil, water, crops, livestock or horticulture
• good record keeping and compliance awareness
• physical fitness and willingness to work long or seasonal hours
• interest in sustainable production and land stewardship

Qualifications and pathways

Some people become farmers or farm managers through family farming, hands-on experience and on-the-job learning. Others enter through agricultural study, apprenticeships, traineeships or university pathways. Formal study can be especially useful for larger enterprises, specialist production systems or management roles.

• Certificate II or III in Agriculture
• Certificate IV in Agriculture or Agribusiness
• Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Agriculture
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Agribusiness or related field
• specialist training in crop production, livestock, horticulture, irrigation, soil health or farm business management
• machinery, chemical handling, workplace safety, biosecurity or heavy vehicle licences where relevant

With experience, farmers and farm managers may progress into senior property management, multi-site farm management, agribusiness management, agricultural consulting, production management, rural operations, farm ownership or specialist sustainability and land-management roles.

Salary and job outlook

Farmer and farm manager income can vary widely depending on whether the person owns the farm, manages someone else’s property, works in crops, livestock, horticulture or mixed farming, and whether accommodation, vehicles, bonuses, seasonal conditions or business profits are involved. Salary information changes over time, so it is best to check current Australian salary, occupation and award resources before applying or negotiating pay.

Where jobs are usually found in Australia

Farmer and farm manager roles are found across regional and rural Australia, including cropping districts, grazing regions, dairy areas, horticultural regions, vineyards, mixed farms and remote stations. Opportunities vary by season, commodity, rainfall, market conditions and regional labour demand.

Tips for getting started

• build hands-on experience through farm work, seasonal work, traineeships or family farm experience
• consider agricultural study if you want to move into management or specialist production roles
• develop machinery, animal handling, crop, irrigation or horticulture skills relevant to your preferred sector
• learn about farm business management, budgeting and production planning
• gain licences or tickets relevant to farm machinery, chemical handling, heavy vehicles or workplace safety
• be open to regional relocation, early starts, seasonal peaks and physically demanding work
• highlight practical experience, reliability and any sustainability or land-management knowledge on your resume

Related environmental careers

• Farm Hand
• Agricultural Technical Officer
• Irrigation Officer / Manager
• Natural Resource Officer
• Landcare Worker
• Pest and Weed Controller
• Environmental Consultant
• Sustainability Officer