Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Head Farmer

🎯 Role Definition

The Head Farmer is the senior on-site leader responsible for planning, directing and optimizing all day-to-day agricultural operations across crops, livestock and infrastructure. This role sets production targets, implements integrated agronomic and animal-health programs, manages budgets and capital projects, leads and develops farm teams, ensures regulatory and food-safety compliance, drives sustainability and regenerative practices, and acts as the primary operational liaison to owners, buyers and supply-chain partners. The Head Farmer is accountable for delivering high-quality product, improving yield and productivity, controlling costs, mitigating operational risk and implementing technology and process improvements to scale efficient, resilient farm operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Farm Manager / Assistant Farm Manager with multi-season responsibility
Crop Production Manager or Livestock Manager with demonstrated leadership
Agronomist or Agricultural Field Supervisor transitioning to operational leadership

Advancement To:

Director of Agricultural Operations or Regional Farm Manager overseeing multiple sites
Chief Operations Officer (agri-business) or Head of Production for a food company
Farm Owner / Partner or senior leadership in agri-enterprise development

Lateral Moves:

Agricultural Consultant or Crop/Livestock Technical Advisor
Operations Manager for food processing or supply-chain businesses
Sustainability or Farm Systems Manager focused on regenerative practices

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the development and execution of annual and multi-year crop and/or livestock production plans that optimize yield, quality and profitability while aligning with market demand and sustainability goals.
Oversee the full seasonal calendar — planting, fertilization, pest and disease control, irrigation scheduling, harvesting and post-harvest handling — to ensure timely operations and product integrity from field to storage.
Manage farm budgets, forecast inputs and outputs, approve expenditures, track cost-per-acre or cost-per-head metrics, and deliver monthly P&L reports and variance analysis to ownership.
Recruit, hire, train and manage a diverse team of permanent and seasonal employees, set performance expectations, design job rotations, and implement workforce safety and retention programs.
Establish and maintain preventative maintenance schedules and repair programs for tractors, combines, irrigation systems, packhouse equipment and vehicle fleets to reduce downtime and extend equipment life.
Implement integrated pest management (IPM) and nutrient management strategies based on soil testing, tissue analysis and agronomic best practices to improve soil health and crop resilience.
Create and manage irrigation and water-resource plans, including scheduling, system optimization, water-use reporting and compliance with regional water regulations and drought contingency plans.
Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory frameworks including occupational health & safety (OSHA/WorkSafe), environmental permits, pesticide application laws, animal welfare standards and labor regulations.
Develop and maintain food-safety, traceability and quality assurance programs (GAP, HACCP, organic certification where applicable) and lead internal audits and third‑party inspections.
Negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers, input vendors, contractors and packers, and coordinate procurement strategies to secure favorable pricing and reliable supply lines.
Lead post-harvest quality control, storage management, grading, packaging and logistics coordination to maximize shelf-life and marketability while minimizing loss.
Analyze production and market data to set planting/stocking decisions, seed and variety selections, stocking densities and harvest timing to capture premium pricing windows.
Drive continuous improvement and innovation projects — precision ag adoption, automation, data-collection systems, and trialing of new varieties or feeds — to increase operational efficiency and reduce input costs.
Coordinate veterinary, nutrition and breeding programs for livestock operations, oversee herd/flock health protocols, vaccination schedules, and biosecurity measures to minimize disease risk.
Design and manage capital improvement projects including infrastructure upgrades, building work, irrigation installations and renewable-energy integrations, ensuring projects meet budgets and timelines.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for production efficiency, yield, animal productivity, labor utilization and input ROI; produce regular dashboards and actionable insights for leadership.
Build and maintain strong relationships with buyers, cooperatives, distributors and local markets; lead negotiations on pricing, delivery windows and quality specifications.
Oversee on-farm waste, nutrient runoff and erosion control programs, implement conservation practices and participate in sustainability certification and carbon sequestration opportunities.
Lead emergency response planning and execution including extreme weather events, biosecurity breaches, equipment failures and human-safety incidents, ensuring continuity of operations.
Prepare, submit and manage compliance documentation, subsidy/grant applications and certification renewals (organic, Fair Trade, GAP), and pursue funding or incentive programs that benefit the farm.
Mentor and develop emerging leaders on the farm, create succession plans for critical roles and design structured training programs to upskill team members.
Conduct regular field scouting, sampling and record-keeping for pests, disease pressure, soil moisture and nutrient status; interpret results and implement corrective actions promptly.
Oversee on-farm record systems (paper and digital), maintain accurate production, input, labor and animal records for traceability, auditing and decision-making.
Coordinate community and stakeholder engagement activities including open-farm days, research collaborations, extension services and local partnership initiatives to enhance farm reputation and market access.
Manage seasonal labor logistics, worker housing, payroll, and compliance with visa/immigration rules when employing migrant or temporary workers.
Set and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions and safety protocols to achieve consistent quality and regulatory compliance across all farm activities.

Secondary Functions

Support business development initiatives by preparing operation summaries, feasibility assessments and pilot proposals for new crops, product lines or processing ventures.
Contribute to sustainability reports and corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications, highlighting regenerative practices, emissions reductions and biodiversity efforts.
Liaise with research institutions, extension agents and input suppliers for trials, demonstrations and technology adoption to keep the farm at the forefront of agronomic best practices.
Participate in regional farming associations, buyer forums and supply-chain meetings to advocate for farm interests and align production with marketplace needs.
Assist owners and finance teams with capital planning, investment evaluations and long-term strategic planning for land use and enterprise diversification.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Crop production planning and rotational agronomy, including variety selection and seed/planting rate optimization.
Livestock husbandry skills, including herd/flock health management, breeding programs and nutrition planning (if applicable).
Machinery operation and heavy equipment maintenance knowledge, with ability to coordinate third-party repairs and preventative maintenance.
Irrigation system design and water-management expertise, including pivot, drip and scheduling systems and water-use efficiency practices.
Soil science and fertility management, including soil sampling interpretation, nutrient budgeting and organic matter improvement.
Integrated pest and disease management (IPM) and pesticide application certification and safe handling procedures.
Financial management skills specific to agriculture: budgeting, cost tracking, yield forecasting and P&L accountability.
Knowledge of food-safety standards and certifications (GAP, HACCP, organic, BRC) and ability to lead compliance programs and audits.
Proficiency with farm management software and digital tools (precision ag platforms, record-keeping systems, GPS-guided equipment, Excel, ERP basics).
Supply chain and logistics coordination, including post-harvest handling, cold chain management and transportation planning.
Capital project management, including bid management, contractor coordination and CAPEX budgeting.
Biosecurity, environmental compliance and health & safety program development and enforcement.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team-building ability with experience coaching multi-disciplinary teams and seasonal workforces.
Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills for reporting to owners, buyers, staff and regulators.
Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure, with a data-driven mindset and practical field intuition.
Time and priority management to balance competing seasonal demands and capital projects.
Adaptability and resilience in the face of weather variability, market shifts and operational disruptions.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for managing labor relations and supplier contracts.
Mentorship and talent development to build internal bench strength and succession plans.
Strategic thinking to align day-to-day operations with long-term business goals and sustainability targets.
Customer-focused orientation for working with buyers, co-ops and direct-market channels.
Ethical judgment and integrity in enforcing safety, compliance and environmental stewardship.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with significant, demonstrated on-farm management experience or technical certifications in agriculture.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, Animal Science, Horticulture, Agricultural Business, Environmental Science or related field.
Additional certifications (e.g., Certified Crop Advisor, Certified Professional Agronomist, HACCP/GAP, Organic Inspector) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Agronomy / Crop Science
Animal Science / Veterinary Technology
Agricultural Business / Farm Management
Horticulture / Plant Science
Soil Science / Environmental Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–12+ years of progressive agricultural experience with at least 3–5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.

Preferred:

7+ years managing multi-crop, specialty or mixed crop-livestock operations with demonstrated success in budgeting, capital projects and team leadership.
Proven track record of implementing yield improvement programs, sustainability practices or certification processes.
Experience managing seasonal labor programs, contract negotiations and third-party service providers.