First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Overview

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Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

Yearly Salary

High: $83K
Median: $50K
Low: $31K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
  • Record the numbers and types of fish or shellfish reared, harvested, released, sold, and shipped.
  • Monitor workers to ensure that safety regulations are followed, warning or disciplining those who violate safety regulations.
  • Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior, notifying veterinarians or managers as warranted.
  • Observe fish and beds or ponds to detect diseases, monitor fish growth, determine quality of fish, or determine completeness of harvesting.
  • Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
  • Train workers in spawning, rearing, cultivating, and harvesting methods, and in the use of equipment.
  • Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.
  • Train workers in techniques such as planting, harvesting, weeding, or insect identification and in the use of safety measures.
  • Communicate with forestry personnel regarding forest harvesting or forest management plans, procedures, or schedules.
  • Confer with managers to evaluate weather or soil conditions, to develop plans or procedures, or to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, or cultivating techniques.
  • Inspect crops, fields, or plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating, spraying, weeding, or harvesting.
  • Coordinate dismantling, moving, and setting up equipment at new work sites.
  • Coordinate the selection and movement of logs from storage areas, according to transportation schedules or production requirements.
  • Schedule work crews, equipment, or transportation for several different work locations.
  • Drive or operate farm machinery, such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters, to transport workers or supplies or to cultivate or harvest fields.
  • Perform both supervisory and management functions, such as accounting, marketing, and personnel work.
  • Transport or arrange for transport of animals, equipment, food, animal feed, and other supplies to and from work sites.
  • Inspect buildings, fences, fields or ranges, supplies, and equipment to determine work to be performed.
  • Read inventory records, customer orders, or shipping schedules to determine required activities.
  • Confer with managers to determine production requirements, conditions of equipment and supplies, and work schedules.
  • Inspect facilities to determine maintenance needs.
  • Prepare and maintain time or payroll reports, as well as details of personnel actions, such as performance evaluations, hires, promotions, or disciplinary actions.
  • Requisition or purchase supplies, such as insecticides, machine parts or lubricants, or tools.
  • Issue equipment, such as farm implements, machinery, ladders, or containers to workers, and collect equipment when work is complete.
  • Monitor or oversee construction projects, such as horticultural buildings or irrigation systems.
  • Calculate or monitor budgets for maintenance or development of collections, grounds, or infrastructure.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Accounting software
Sage 50 Accounting
Calendar and scheduling software
Work scheduling software
Data base user interface and query software
Valley Agricultural Software DairyCOMP 305
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Midwest MicroSystems Cow Sense
Expert system software
Valley Agricultural Software Feed Watch
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Inventory management software
TradeTec Computer Systems TallyWorks Logs
Map creation software
Mapping software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software
Atlassian Confluence
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Time accounting software
Payroll software
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Agricultural and forestry and landscape machinery and equipment
Automated feed batch mixers
Batteries and generators and kinetic power transmission
Gas-powered generators
Cleaning and janitorial supplies
Tank cleaning brushes
Communications Devices and Accessories
Two way radios
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Consumer electronics
Geodetic ground global positioning system GPS receivers
Fishing and aquaculture equipment
Fish holding tanks
Hand tools
Adjustable hand wrenches
Heavy construction machinery and equipment
Backhoes
Industrial pumps and compressors
Water pumps
Industrial refrigeration
Blast chillers
Janitorial equipment
Squeegees
Laboratory and scientific equipment
Total dissolved solids TDS meters
Laboratory supplies and fixtures
Irrigation pipettes
Marine transport
Small power boats
Mass transfer equipment
Grain dryers
Material handling machinery and equipment
Cable winches
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Dissolved oxygen indicators
Motor vehicles
Grain trucks
Patient care and treatment products and supplies
Blood drawing syringes
Personal safety and protection
Dust and particulate respirators
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Video camera systems
Respiratory and anesthesia and resuscitation products
Nebulizers
Saddlery and harness goods
Horse bridles
Vehicle bodies and trailers
Animal trailers
Veterinary equipment and supplies
Animal injection syringes
Water and wastewater treatment supply and disposal
Ultraviolet water purification systems
Watersports equipment
Scuba diving equipment

Top 10 Knowledge Required

Administration and Management
78%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Production and Processing
74%
Importance

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Customer and Personal Service
71%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

English Language
69%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Mechanical
69%
Importance

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Education and Training
67%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Biology
65%
Importance

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Food Production
61%
Importance

Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Mathematics
61%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security
60%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Top 10 Skills

Coordination
75%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring
73%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking
73%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Management of Personnel Resources
70%
Importance

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Reading Comprehension
70%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Time Management
70%
Importance

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Active Listening
68%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Instructing
68%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Operations Monitoring
68%
Importance

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Top 10 Abilities

Oral Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Problem Sensitivity
78%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Oral Expression
75%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Near Vision
70%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Clarity
70%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition
70%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Category Flexibility
68%
Importance

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Deductive Reasoning
68%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Far Vision
68%
Importance

The ability to see details at a distance.

Inductive Reasoning
68%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Top 10 Work Activities

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
81%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information
81%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
80%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
79%
Importance

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
77%
Importance

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
77%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
76%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
76%
Importance

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
76%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Controlling Machines and Processes
73%
Importance

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Detailed Work Activities

  • Assign duties or work schedules to employees.
  • Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.
  • Inspect products or operations to ensure that standards are met.
  • Monitor animal behavior or condition.
  • Train workers in farming, forestry, or hunting techniques.
  • Treat animal injuries or illnesses.
  • Confer with managers to make operational decisions.
  • Communicate with other workers to coordinate activities.
  • Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
  • Coordinate forestry or agricultural activities.
  • Schedule agricultural or forestry work.
  • Operate farming equipment.
  • Direct activities of agricultural, forestry, or fishery employees.
  • Transport animals, crops, or equipment.
  • Inspect equipment or facilities to determine condition or maintenance needs.
  • Monitor organizational processes.
  • Maintain personnel records.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
  • Monitor financial activities.
  • Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.
  • Direct technical activities or operations.
  • Monitor operational quality or safety.

Education

Interests

Enterprising
86%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Realistic
80%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional
67%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Social
42%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Investigative
32%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Artistic
15%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Work Values

Independence
74%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support
66%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Achievement
65%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Relationships
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Working Conditions
61%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.