Food is essential for human survival. Proper feeding helps a person stay strong, healthy, and efficient.
The food we eat follows a lot of processes before arriving at its last form. And farmers play a vital role in the beginning stages of any food that basically involves planting and harvesting the crops.
Farmers get a suitable reward for the vital role they play when they sell their products, however, the conversations have failed to hit a figure that can be taken as their pay.
For this reason, this article will answer the question “How Much Do Farmers Make?” But before we get into this aspect, we will identify the key roles of farmers, the farmer’s career journey, and a lot more.
Who is a Farmer?
A farmer is a professional that stations under the covering of agriculture producing a wide variety of products for animal and human consumption. Although many farmers invest in producing food crops, others focus on rearing animals for commercial purposes.
Farmers ensure that all the crops and livestock needed for human survival are accessible. Of course, it’s not news that human survival is under threat without food, and farmers stand in the gap to ensure no food scarcity. This is one of their duties leading up to the many others.
What are the Duties of a Farmer?
The entire goal of the farmer is to ensure that the food crops are healthy for eating and the animals receive the same measure of care. However, these duties follow certain intricate steps that build-up to this result.
A farmer ensures they purchase and plant the right seeds in the right season. The farmer must hold expert knowledge of the crops that sprout at certain seasons, considering the timeline it takes for them to sprout. More so, the farmer must understand the dietary supplement each crop and animal needs to ensure they remain healthy.
Commanding expert knowledge of planting seasons and plant and animal nutrition will help a farmer keep healthy crops and animals, but if they work without the right equipment, they won’t make progress quickly.
Hence, this presents the need for a farmer to learn about the necessary farming equipment and how to keep them functioning optimally.
Conclusively, a farmer must understand the regulations regarding certain food products to stay within the laws guiding his practice. These regulations help monitor and ensure the right product comes out from the farms.
Are There Different Farmers?
Farming is broad. No farmer can be an expert in different areas of this career path, as they can pick either one or two wherein they can be expertise. The different farmers include:
Organic Farmer
Organic farming is a type of farming that depends on green manure, crop rotation, and biological pest control. Although an organic farmer will use select fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring they avoid synthetic fertilizers.
An organic farmer avoids using livestock antibiotics, hormones, human sewage sludge, food additives, etc. The animals get proper treatment as they get access to great food and go outdoors to receive fresh air.
Organic farmers protect the viability of the land. Besides their normal responsibilities, organic farmers monitor soil conditions and biological productivity.
Grain and Forage Crop Farmer
A grain and forage farmer grows wheat, barley, oats, canola, and specialty crops. They also plant and rear specialty crops such as barley, confectionary seeds, and corn.
These farmers know the right amount of seedlings they need to plant to get the results they want. Apart from planting, they play supervisory roles as well as maintain financial records, equipment, and buildings.
Dairy Farmers
A dairy farmer is a professional that manages dairy cows so they produce the right quantity of milk. Dairy farmers take care of cows that supply milk and oversee the harvesting of their milk.
Some dairy farmers own their cow herds, and the land wherein these farms sit. Others work on large farms owned by corporations in the food and agriculture industries.
Some farms, especially small operations, grow and harvest feed for their cattle on site. They may also breed and raise their own replacement heifers.
Poultry Farmer
Poultry farming is the form of animal husbandry that focuses on taking care of domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese to produce meat or eggs for food. Chickens raised for eggs are known as layers, while chickens raised for meat are called broilers.
Poultry farmers make use of closed houses for rearing their animals. These houses protect the animals, especially the chickens, from harmful weather conditions and predator animals. Poultry farmers use approved medication for their chickens and birds to keep them healthy.
Rancher
Farmers and ranchers oversee and contribute to every stage of the ranging process and crop production that includes herding, planting, harvesting, and fertilizing. Furthermore, they purchase farm machinery, seed, fertilizers, and other supplies and ensure machinery and equipment are in good repair and well-maintained.
Most ranchers are usually outdoors herding cattle to and from different pastures, overseeing the maintenance of fences and buildings, and taking care of any sick or injured animals.
Beekeeper
Beekeepers are also called honey farmers. The term beekeeper is a professional who keeps honey bees in beehives, boxes, or other receptacles. The beekeeper does not control the creatures.
The beekeeper takes care of the hives or boxes and associated equipment. The bees have the freedom to move as they desire. Bees usually return to the beekeeper’s hive as the hive presents a clean, dark, sheltered home.
Vermiculturist
A vermiculturist is a professional who breeds worms and uses the worms to convert waste products such as uneaten food, feces, grass clippings, and spoiled fruit and vegetables into healthy, nutrient-rich soil and organic fertilizer.
As the desire for organic food increases, farmers would need organic fertilizers to help them in production and vermiculturists make it possible.
Alligator Farmer
An alligator farmer breeds and rears crocodiles for the production of leather, meat, and other goods. In many parts of Asia, crocodile and alligator meats are used as curative foods for certain chronic ailments.
Although these animals can be farmed locally, they are also given a thriving environment that is plenteous with resources such as water for their survival.
Alligator farmers must be experienced in management, also understand nutrition and environmental conditions. This knowledge will help them reduce any stress on the animal.
How Do I Become a Farmer?
Everyone who desires to become a farmer can make it happen for themselves. Of course, there are many roles and paths in farming and you can choose the aspect that best attunes to you. However, having a passion for farming is never enough as you need to build skill and competence.
The pathway of becoming a farmer has been made easier through the introduction of a formal structure. And the process includes:
Step 1: Obtain Relevant Education
A lot of farmers start the farming business from a young age because they are born into a farming family. They gain experience through observation and hands-on experience from the time they’re children. However, modern techniques have been introduced into the farming industry, boosting the necessity for farmers to receive formal education.
A potential farmer can enroll in a university or college in programs such as agricultural economics, agriculture, farm management, or dairy science. Students can go for an associate’s degree and take classes in animal science, conservation of natural resources, farmer science, and principles of horticulture.
There are also certificate programs in agriculture for those already invested in the field of agriculture seeking to expand their knowledge in specific areas, such as organic farming. They can go after courses in plant diseases, organic farming, nutritional science, food quality and safety, crop development, and soil fertility.
Step 2: Build Work Experience
Farming students can build their knowledge of the industry by partaking in internships which some learning institutions require. Internships help students gain practical and hands-on farming experience. These students gain the right assistance from school advisors or faculty members in finding internship opportunities.
Furthermore, many farmers master their trade through on-the-job training by working under an experienced farmer. For those without formal education, some farms offer amazing apprenticeships to teach them the skills needed to begin a career in farming.
Step 3: Become Certified
Farmers or farm managers can seek the Accredited Farm Manager certification through the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers or through the body responsible for certifying them.
All applicants must successfully complete a four-part certification examination as well as a test of the code of ethics. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the agricultural field and four years of farming experience is a vital requirement to gain this certification.
Step 4: Enroll in Continuing Education Courses
Continuing education courses are structured to enhance a farmer’s skills. Many schools offer continuing education courses in agriculture for those who have obtained their degrees.
These programs are flexible and designed for busy farmers and agricultural professionals. Laboratory and technical classrooms form part of the course outline.
How Much Do Farmers Make In 2022?
A farmer performs the vital functions that ensure humans meet their nutritional needs when they eat the right food. Their understanding of the right planting times helps them make the best decisions on food matters.
For all their efforts, farmers get a commendable monetary reward. The average wage for a farmer in the United States is around $11.21 per hour. Top-level farmers earn about $16.01 per hour while low-level farmers have a take-home of $9.85 per hour.
Conclusion
A farmer is a professional who stations under the covering of agriculture, producing a wide variety of animal and human consumption products. These farmers work in different sections of the industry, harnessing productivity.
Farmers get a worthy reward for their efforts reflected in their salary. While junior farmers don’t earn as much as senior farmers, they make enough.
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