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American farmers and ranchers produce enough food and fiber to meet the needs of the United States and for export.
Farmers and ranchers own and operate mainly family-owned farms. They also may lease land from a landowner and operate it as a working farm. Farm output and income are strongly influenced by the weather, disease, fluctuations in prices of domestic and foreign farm products and Federal farm programs.
In crop-production operations, farmers usually determine the best time to plant seed, apply fertilizer and chemicals and harvest and market the crops.
Livestock, dairy, and poultry ranchers feed and care for animals and keep barns, pens, coops and other farm buildings clean and in good condition. They also plan and oversee breeding and marketing activities.
Farmers and ranchers also negotiate with banks and other credit lenders to get the best financing deals for their equipment, livestock and seed. Like other businesses, operations have become more complex, so many farmers and ranchers use computers to keep financial and inventory records. They also use computer databases and spreadsheets to manage breeding, dairy and other farm operations.
How long will it take?
Most farmers receive their training on the job, often by being raised on a farm. However, the completion of a 2-year associate degree or a 4-year bachelor’s degree at a college of agriculture is becoming increasingly important for farm managers and for farmers and ranchers who expect to make a living at farming.
How much can you earn?
Incomes of farmers and ranchers vary greatly from year to year, because prices of farm products fluctuate with weather conditions, demand and other factors. A farm that shows a large profit one year may show a loss the following year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average net cash farm business income for farm operator households in 2005 was $15,603. This figure, however, does not reflect that farmers often receive government subsidies or other payments that supplement their incomes and reduce some of the risk of farming.
Where can you work?
About 80% of farmers and ranchers are self-employed. Most operate small farms on a part-time basis. The soil, topography of the land and climate often determine the type of farming and ranching done in a particular area. California, Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas are the leading agricultural states in terms of agricultural output measured in dollars. Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee are the leading agricultural states in terms of numbers of farms.
AC can help you get there!
