Farmers do many jobs around the farm such as raising farm animals and planting, caring for and harvesting crops. Usually, they sell their fruit, vegetables, wool and other farming products for money.
Farmers have to make important decisions about what kind of crops they can grow in their area and where they should be planted, if those crops will make money and what farm animals should be raised.
They also have to plan all the different farming activities that need to be carried out, and how much it will cost for seed, fertiliser, feed for animals and farm equipment and order these supplies when required.
Farmers and farm managers may perform the following tasks:
- manage the finances of the business by monitoring and controlling income and expenses
- recruit and supervise farm workers who are employed to assist with activities such as crop growing and livestock raising
- plant, care for, harvest and sell crops
- handle, load and transport livestock for showing, slaughter or sale
- clean and maintain buildings, sheds, animal pens, and equipment to ensure that health standards are maintained and produce is of a high quality
- care for animals, monitor all aspects of their health and seek advice and treatment for animals from a vet when necessary
- ensure that adequate food, water and protection from the weather are provided for livestock
- plan farming activities to minimise damage to the environment, and monitor the environmental effects of farming activities
- use programs such as tree planting to repair any existing damage to the land such as soil erosion and salinity problems
Farmers spend most of their time working outdoors. They are a
self-employed person who either owns or leases the land that they farm.
A farm manager is an employee who is paid a salary to manage a farm or a group of farms.
| Did you know... •The Australian dairy industry produced 9.2 billion litres of milk during 2007/08 •There are 7,950 dairy farms located across Australia •About 1,700,000 dairy cows produce all of Australia’s milk •On average, cows produce 5,250 litres of milk per year •The most common dairy cow breed in Australia is the Holstein Friesian •Approximately 40,000 people are directly employed on dairy farms and in manufacturing plants (Source: Dairy Australia)
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