As the name suggests, farm workers care for farms and everything in them. These professionals inspect crops; apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; harvest and store produce. They also take care of cattle and poultry and occasionally operate heavy machinery and equipment under the supervision of ranchers, farm supervisors or managers.
If you are interested in landing this role, you have just found the right article. We will look at the roles and responsibilities of farm workers and the accompanying academic, experience and skill requirements to help you gauge whether you can succeed given a chance. The last sub-topics, i.e., resume examples and FAQ sections, will help you prepare the best resume for your job application. Let’s get right into it!
Farm Worker Job Description
Farm workers tend to crops, livestock or poultry( or even both). Most of them stay on the farm where they perform physical labour, operate heavy machinery, perform basic repair maintenance and irrigate farm soils. Other tasks include manual harvesting, farm produce transportation, weeding, landscaping, and maintaining accurate records of crops and animals.
To succeed in this job, you will need knowledge of farming techniques, excellent teamwork skills, willingness to work overtime during busy seasons, excellent supervisory skills and good physical stamina. Other requirements include adaptability to change, excellent supervisory skills and basic knowledge of farm machinery operation.
Farm Worker Roles and Responsibilities
- Operating heavy agricultural equipment and machinery under the direction of the farm manager or rancher
- Inspecting crops and applying fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides for optimal growth
- Performing basic repair and maintenance tasks around the farm, e.g., clearing drainages and mending walls
- Manual harvesting of crops once they reach maturity
- Maintaining excellent working relationships with other farm employees
- Inspecting and maintaining farm machinery such as harvesters
- Performing landscaping and weeding tasks to support the growth of plants
- Helping out with other manual duties as required
- Cutting, raking and tethering hay to keep the farm surrounding presentable
- Assisting with the annual planting and weeding of crops
- Looking after different farm animals, e.g. pigs, chickens and cattle
- Preparing and maintaining accurate records of animals and farm equipment
- Inspecting animals for any signs of diseases and keeping the farm manager/ rancher informed
- Milking cows/goats using milking machines
- Feeding farm animals, keeping them clean, and inspecting them during breeding
- Keeping and maintaining accurate records of crops and livestock
- Participating in the preparation and packaging of produce for sale purposes
- Maintaining farm buildings
- Marking livestock using tattoos, tags and brands for ownership and grading purposes
- Performing any other delegated tasks
Farm Worker Required Knowledge and Skills
- Basic farming knowledge (can be obtained from living/working on a farm)
- Excellent collaboration skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Excellent supervisory skills
- Adaptability to change
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to interpret basic regulation requirements
- General housekeeping skills
- Ability to work in team settings
- Interpersonal skills
- Continuous process improvement skills
- Farm machinery operation skills
- Excellent physical stamina
- Familiarity with different farm-related machines
- Excellent perception skills
- Strong attention to details
- Ability to meet deadlines, however strict
- Ability to work overtime, especially during busy seasons such as harvesting
- Ability to work with farm animals
- Dexterity
- Excellent eye-hand coordination
- Active listening skills
- Mechanical skills
- Ability to work outdoors for longer durations
- Ability to work independently with no/ minimal supervision
- Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- High degrees of flexibility
- Openness to change
- Familiarity with breeding procedures
Farm Worker Education and Experience
- College certificate/ specialized courses related to farming, e.g., pruning, farm equipment mechanics and pesticides/herbicides
- Experience working in a farm environment
- High school Diploma/ GED
- Valid Driver’s license
- Experience using different farming equipment
- Experience operating heavy farming-related machinery, e.g., tractors
- Experience maintaining different farm equipment
- Proven experience working with livestock
Farm Worker Salary
According to Glassdoor, farm workers earn approximately $40,000 annually- a combination of a base pay of $38,000 and an additional payment of $2,000. To be more specific, they make $16- $22 an hour on average. However, if you intend to make more, consider rising ranks and becoming a farm manager.
Farm Worker CV Example 1
Ryan Harden
Physical address: 110 Eaglewood Drive, Statesville, North Carolina, 24587
Email address: hardenryan67@gmail.com
Phone number: (450) 908- 5436
Personal Profile
Professional farm worker with excellent cultivation and cattle management skills ready to apply acquired knowledge and experiences for successful task execution. Hardworking labourer with excellent teamwork skills and extensive knowledge of different farming techniques. Self-motivated employee with vast experience using various farm equipment and machinery.
Work Experience
02/2019- 07/2022, Farm Supervisor, Bellaire Farms, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Supervised, trained and conducted a performance evaluation of 30 farm hands
- Inspected all farming equipment and machines, scheduling regular repairs to reduce downtime
- Prepared and presented accurate reports on equipment, production, materials and employee performance
- Organized and facilitated the repair and maintenance of farm buildings and structures, keeping them presentable and in stable working conditions
- Trained farm hands-on safety measures and safe operation of farming equipment, reducing accidents and related incidences by 85%
- Organized and supervised the planting, cultivation, harvesting and storage of 10+ garden crops and vegetables in the farming complex
- Closely monitored workers to identify unsafe work procedures, initiating corrective actions where applicable as soon as possible
- Performed weekly and monthly performance reviews of farm employees, giving disciplinary warnings to non-performers
- Regularly informed employees of farm rules and regulations, monitoring them to ensure 100% compliance
05/2015- 11/2018, Poultry Farm Laborer, Prime Chicken Farms, Asheville, North Carolina
- Liaised with 15 poultry farm workers to take care of 20,000 chickens and broilers
- Collected 500+ eggs daily, saving the best for hatcheries and preparing the rest for sale
- Monitored the chickens’ watering system, initiating the right corrective actions in case of defects
- Controlled birdhouse lighting, tailoring it to meet bird needs to ensure comfort
- Complied with all biosecurity standards when entering and exiting the poultry house to ensure chicken safety
- Refilled drinkers and feeders, offering poultry access to food and water 100% of the time
02/2011- 04/2015, Farm Hand, Wilmington Premium Farms, North Carolina
- Prepared and revised feeding schedules for 700+ cows and 350 goats
- Regularly repaired the farm’s fences, reducing livestock escape incidences by 95%
- Employed excellent communication and teamworking skills to cultivate excellent working relationships with 35 farm labourers
- Cleaned feeding and watering troughs, maintaining superior sanitization and cleanliness standards required for healthy livestock
- Identified sick animals and liaised with the facility’s veterinarian to offer the proper treatment
- Followed recommended milking standards to preserve milk safety and quality
Education
- 02/2008- 08/2010, Farm Management Associate in Applied Science Degree, Wake Technical Community College, North Carolina
- 02/2005- 06/2007, High School Diploma, Raleigh Senior High School, Raleigh, North Carolina
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- French
Technical Skills
- Animal care
- Equipment maintenance
- Farm equipment operation
- Land management
- Front end loading
- Fence Repair
- CDP
- Bobcat operation and maintenance
- Manual labour
- Cattle management
Soft Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Problem-solving
- Active listening
- Collaboration
- Monitoring
- Delegation
- Conflict resolution
- Flexibility
- Dependability
- Attention to details
- Decision making
- Learning
- Interpersonal communication
Certifications
05/17, EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certifications (EPA), Event Planners Association
Farm Worker CV Example 2
Julie Maria
Physical address: 120 Queens Road #56, Charlotte, North Carolina, 24890
Email address: mariajulie17@gmail.com
Phone number: (560) 765- 5432
Personal Profile
Senior farm worker with 9+ years of experience cultivating crops and caring for livestock and poultry. Farming professional with extensive knowledge of farming best practices ready to work long hours and perform manual labour for successful execution of farming-related tasks. Excellent communicator with outstanding collaboration and teamworking skills needed for successful farm work.
Work Experience
06/2019- 09/2022, Temporary Farm Supervisor, Rose View Farms, Miami, Florida
- Collected rainfall data and temperature readings; forwarding them to the farm management at designated times
- Recorded employee attendance, accurately noting their arrival and departure to gauge the best and least performing
- Researched and attended farming conferences and workshops to improve knowledge of farming techniques and equipment operation
- Cares for 250+ dairy animals through activities such as feeding, vaccination, breeding and milking
- Inspected crops and farmlands daily to determine yield and work requirements before reporting to the farm manager.
- Ensured that all workers complied with the prescribed health and safety guidelines
- Regularly trained 50+ employees on best farming practices, equipment maintenance and dairy cattle management
- Named the best farm supervisor in 2019 for excellent leadership and supervisory skills out of 15 candidates
- Promoted to a full-time farm supervisor in mid-2021
01/2016- 05/2019, General Farm Laborer, Quality Produce Farms, San Diego, CA
- Performed basic building repair and maintenance tasks, such as mending fences to keep the farm in a good condition
- Ensured maximum profitability from the farm’s 150 dairy cattle by maintaining proper milking techniques and enforcing quality care standards
- Conducted minor repairs on 15+ machines, preventing downtime for increased productivity
- Applied excellent communication skills to build and maintain excellent working relationships with farm personnel and outside buyers
- Recognized for completing tasks on time and with little supervision
- Kept the pens clean at all times, keeping animals and poultry safe from infections
04/2011- 11/2015, Dairy Farm Laborer, Dairyland Farms, Pineville, North Carolina
- Used milking machines and manual means to milk 150 dairy cattle daily, generating more revenue for the farm
- Built and maintained excellent relationships with clients, ensuring the timely dispatch of their orders
- Regularly examined animals to identify diseases and injuries and reported findings to the farm manager
- Grouped animals based on three factors, i.e. age, weight and physical conditions
- Regularly collected milk samples for laboratory analysis
- Maintained excellent working relationships with 20+ dairy farm workers through excellent communication and teamworking skills
- Used disinfectants, water hoses and stiff brushes to clean pens and feeding troughs, keeping diseases at bay and promoting the overall health of the animals
Education
- 03/2008- 05/2010, Associate of Applied Science in Agriculture, Northwest Iowa Community College, Sheldon, Iowa
- 05/2005- 11/2007, High School Diploma, Pineville Senior High School, North Carolina
Skills
- Languages
- German
- English
- Polish
Technical Skills
- Animal care
- Dump truck operation
- Equipment maintenance
- CDL
- Bobcat operation
- Milking
- Manual labour
- Front end loading
- Land management
- Cattle management
- Farm equipment operation
Soft Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Organization
- Collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Ability to work in team settings
- Flexibility
- Conflict resolution
- Attention to details
- People management
- Learning
- Creativity
- Time management
- Ability to meet deadlines
Certifications
- 05/18, EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certifications (EPA), Event Planners Association
- 06/15, Equipment Management Specialist, Association of Equipment Management Professionals
Farm Worker Resume Frequently Asked Questions FAQS
1. Which Technical Skills Should I Include in My Farm Worker Resume?
Every job requires specialized knowledge and expertise for excellent task execution and proper use of tools and programs. Often referred to as technical skills, they differentiate how good one worker is from another. For a competitive resume, please include the following: equipment maintenance, ability to perform basic maintenance duties, e.g. fence mending and repair, dump truck operation, bobcat operation, milking, manual labour, Commercial Driving License (CDL), record keeping and maintenance and farming operations.
Additional skills worth considering are the ability to perform inspections, animal care, land management, harvesting, trucking, irrigation, weeding, hand tools operation, poultry farming, farming, forklift operation, landscaping, piping, pruning and painting.
Only include the technical skills that you possess. Lying in your resume may prove troublesome once you get the job and can’t do half of what you indicated in your resume.
2. Which Certifications Can I Obtain for a Farm Worker Resume?
Think about earning a few credentials to verify your skills and expertise. They make you more competitive in the job market, improving your chances of landing the job. Here are a few options worth trying:
- EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA)- This is perhaps one of the most revered safety programs to pursue as a farm worker. It covers risk management practices, helping workers avoid accidents by applying various recognized risk management techniques. It doesn’t require any previous work experience and is offered by the Event Planners Association.
- Equipment Management Specialist- One of farm workers’ primary duties is maintaining farm equipment to execute different tasks successfully. This Association of Equipment Management Professionals’ certification may therefore come in handy. It should be obtained within the first five years of your career.
- Certified Agriculture Water Manager (CAWM)- Farm work and large-scale crop cultivation require an excessive water supply. The CAWM certification by the Irrigation Association helps different farm workers learn how to manage and conserve water even as they irrigate farmlands. It covers areas such as the assessment of specific crops’ water requirements, hydraulics, use and installation methods, grading, drainage, chemigation, existing irrigation systems, repairs and operational improvements and soil-water-plant relationships, and must be renewed every two years.
Alternatively, you can pursue different farming-related courses, such as certificate courses in rural operations, poultry production, production horticulture, or a general course in agriculture. All in all, ensure that you have at least one certification to stay ahead of other applicants.
3. Which Keywords Should I Include in My Farm Worker Resume?
One of the most important considerations to have in mind when writing any resume is to get the keywords right. These can be general tools, skills or specific knowledge and expertise that the hiring manager needs in a new employee. Using the right keywords will help you get past the applicant tracking system and capture the hiring manager’s attention, which every applicant should strive to do.
Some common keywords in farm worker resumes are farming, poultry, animal care, weeding, trucking, forklift, irrigation, harvesting, vegetables, hand tools, fencing, fertilization, farm equipment, landscaping, pumping, outdoor, mixing, piping, painting and pruning. Additional keywords worth considering are land management, cattle management, dump truck, bobcat, manual, labour, CDL and inspection.
However, don’t forget to spread these keywords evenly in your resume to avoid keyword stuffing, which usually makes your resume look generic, hence failing to appeal to the hiring manager. Also, review the job posting once more to find the right keywords for your resume based on its wording. You will stand a better chance than all the applicants if you do this right.
4. How Can I Write the Best Farm Worker Resume?
There are a few things that you should have in mind when writing your farm worker resume. Note that your resume will hardly reach the hiring manager without a suitable format or keywords. Therefore, first, source farm worker skills from the online job listing. Include whatever the employer wants in their new hire. Your resume template must also be formatted in reverse-chronological order, as seen from our examples.
Use the right action words and figures, i.e., numbers, in your work experience section. Quantifying your work experiences or achievements make them more specific and tangible. Additionally, include a certifications section if you have some, and list your credentials. Please use the right fonts and font sizes when making the last touches. Standard fonts such as Times New Roman and Ariel, widely accepted even by scholars, are advisable.
5. What Should I Include in my Resume Work Experience Section?
As seen from our resume examples, the work experience section is the bulkiest. To get it right, include the previous farming-related positions you held. Note the employer’s name and location, job title, exact dates of employment, and, finally, your accomplishments. It is highly advisable to quantify your contributions to communicate your value easily.