First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Workers

Career Description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of agricultural crop or horticultural workers.

Industry: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Other Job Titles for First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Workers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Inspect crops, fields, and plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating, spraying, weeding, or harvesting.
• Assign duties such as cultivation, irrigation and harvesting of crops or plants, product packaging and grading, and equipment maintenance.
• Observe workers to detect inefficient and unsafe work procedures or to identify problems, initiating corrective action as necessary.
• Review employees' work to evaluate quality and quantity.
• Prepare and maintain time and payroll reports, as well as details of personnel actions such as performance evaluations, hires, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
• Plan and supervise infrastructure and collections maintenance functions such as planting, fertilizing, pest and weed control, and landscaping.
• Prepare reports regarding farm conditions, crop yields, machinery breakdowns, or labor problems.
• Requisition and purchase supplies such as insecticides, machine parts or lubricants, and tools.
• Estimate labor requirements for jobs, and plan work schedules accordingly.
• Direct or assist with the adjustment and repair of farm equipment and machinery.
• Train workers in techniques such as planting, harvesting, weeding, and insect identification, and in the use of safety measures.
• Drive and operate farm machinery such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters in order to transport workers and supplies, or to cultivate and harvest fields.
• Perform the same horticultural or agricultural duties as subordinates.
• Issue equipment such as farm implements, machinery, ladders, or containers to workers, and collect equipment when work is complete.
• Inspect facilities to determine maintenance needs.
• Confer with managers to evaluate weather and soil conditions, to develop plans and procedures, and to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, or cultivating techniques.
• Recruit, hire, and discharge workers.
• Read inventory records, customer orders, and shipping schedules to determine required activities.
• Investigate grievances and settle disputes to maintain harmony among workers.
• Calculate and monitor budgets for maintenance and development of collections, grounds, and infrastructure.
• Contract with seasonal workers and farmers to provide employment.
• Monitor and oversee construction projects such as horticultural buildings and irrigation systems.
• Perform hardscape activities including installation and repair of irrigation systems, resurfacing and grading of paths, rockwork, or erosion control.
• Arrange for transportation, equipment, and living quarters for seasonal workers.

Emerging Tasks

• Bathe and groom animals.
• Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.
• Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• analyze operational or management reports or records
• analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
• assign work to staff or employees
• conduct or attend staff meetings
• conduct training for personnel
• consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
• dictate correspondence
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct workers in planting, irrigating, cultivating, harvesting, or marketing
• discipline staff for infractions of rules or regulations
• drive automobile, van, or light truck
• drive truck with capacity greater than 3 tons
• establish employee performance standards
• estimate materials or labor requirements
• estimate time needed for project
• evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
• explain work orders, specifications, or work techniques to workers
• follow contract, property, or insurance laws
• follow horticulture irrigation techniques
• hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
• identify crop characteristics
• identify fruit or vegetable or crops ready for harvest
• inspect crops or fields
• inspect crops to determine quality
• inspect facilities to determine repair or replacement needs
• issue supplies, materials, or equipment
• judge soil conditions
• maintain or repair farm vehicles, machinery, or mechanical implements
• modify work procedures or processes to meet deadlines
• monitor worker performance
• negotiate business contracts
• observe plants, flowers, shrubs or trees to ascertain condition
• operate agricultural equipment or machinery
• operate tractor with accessories or attachments
• orient new employees
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• perform safety inspections in agricultural, forestry, or fishing setting
• plan development or production of hybrid plant varieties
• plan harvesting
• plan or organize work
• plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
• prepare or maintain employee records
• prepare reports
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
• recruit employees
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule employee work hours
• transport passengers or cargo
• understand second language
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

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