What is a farmer?

A farmer is a person who works in the production of crops intended for food, industry, animal feed or other uses. Depending on the type of farm, they may grow cereals, fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, forage or industrial crops.

In a broader sense, the word farmer is also used to refer to people who manage mixed farms with crops and animals. However, in many countries a distinction is made between farmer, mainly dedicated to crops, and agricultural and livestock producer, a broader concept that also includes livestock activities.

Agriculture remains a fundamental activity worldwide. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), nearly 1.4 billion people worked in the world's agrifood systems in 2023.

But being a farmer today involves much more than sowing and harvesting. It also means managing resources, controlling costs, interpreting the weather, using machinery, making business decisions and, increasingly, working with technology and data.

What does a farmer do?

Tasks depend on the crop, the size of the farm, the climate and the time of year.

A farmer may be responsible for:

• Choosing which crops to grow.
• Preparing the soil.
• Selecting seeds and varieties.
• Planning planting.
• Controlling weeds, pests and diseases.
• Managing fertilization and irrigation.
• Operating tractors, harvesters and other machines.
• Monitoring crop growth.
• Organizing the harvest.
• Storing and transporting production.
• Buying seeds, fertilizers, fuel and other inputs.
• Negotiating prices and selling production.
• Managing staff.
• Monitoring expenses, income and financing.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics precisely describes this combination of production and management: farmers make decisions considering prices, diseases, soil conditions, weather and costs, as well as buying inputs, maintaining facilities and marketing what is produced.

What is a workday like?

There is no typical workday because activity changes throughout the year.

During planting season, a farmer may start the day by checking the weather forecast, checking soil moisture, preparing machinery and spending several hours planting.

At another stage of the season, they may walk the fields to detect weeds, insects, diseases or lack of water. They may also meet with an agricultural engineer, buy supplies, repair a machine or negotiate the future sale of part of the harvest.

When harvest arrives, the days can be particularly intense. The window for work may depend on humidity, rainfall and the condition of the crop.

On livestock or mixed farms, the activity changes again, because animals need feeding and care throughout the year.

Types of farmers

The career takes very different forms depending on what is produced.

Extensive crop farmer

They generally work with relatively large areas and crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans, sunflower, barley, sorghum or rapeseed. Mechanization plays a central role in this type of production.

Horticulturist

They produce vegetables and other garden crops. They may work outdoors or in greenhouses and usually need frequent monitoring of irrigation, nutrition, pests and time of harvest.

Fruit grower

They specialize in fruit plantations. The work may include pruning, blossom management, irrigation, plant health control, harvesting and storage of the product.

Organic producer

They work following specific organic production standards. This does not necessarily mean a complete absence of products for fertilization or pest control, but that methods and inputs allowed by the relevant regulations are used and many conventional synthetic products are restricted.

Crop-livestock producer

They combine crops with animal production. For example, they may plant grains and forage and, at the same time, raise cattle or sheep.

Family producer

On a family farm, much of the management and work is done by members of a family. This does not necessarily mean that the farm is small.

The FAO estimates that more than 90% of the world's farms are family-run and that they produce around 80% of the world's food measured by value.

How does the work change by country?

There is no single farmer model. Production depends on the climate, the soil, the available area, access to water, technology, the economy and the characteristics of the local market.

Argentina

Argentina combines extensive agriculture with fruit growing, horticulture, viticulture, livestock production and numerous regional crops.

Soybeans, corn, wheat, sunflower, barley and sorghum carry significant weight within extensive production. As a recent reference, the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de Argentina reported that the 2025/26 season exceeded 163 million tons of grain.

The country also has significant adoption of precision agriculture. The INTA works with remote sensors, artificial intelligence, imagery, drones and other technologies applied to both extensive crops and regional productions.

Uruguay

In Uruguay, agriculture, livestock farming, dairy farming, rice, horticulture, fruit growing and mixed production systems coexist.

Family farming remains important enough to have a National Family Farming Plan 2024-2030, which addresses issues such as sustainability, climate change, rural youth and territorial development.

The country is also a good example of technology adoption in the agricultural sector. In cattle production, a national cattle traceability system operates that makes it possible to follow cattle identification from the farm of origin to later stages of the chain.

Paraguay

Paraguay combines large farms with a significant presence of family farming. Its products include soybeans, corn, wheat, cassava, fruits, vegetables, sesame and other crops.

The SENAVE establishes Good Agricultural Practices programs focused on the quality and safety of plant products, worker protection, and environmental care.

Marketing is also going digital. The Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería de Paraguay has a digital market that allows family farming producers to offer products and contact buyers directly.

United States

The United States has highly mechanized agriculture with large differences between regions. Corn, soybeans, and wheat are among its main extensive crops, while other states specialize in cotton, rice, fruits, vegetables, dairy production, livestock, or poultry.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows how production varies considerably between states and how crops like corn and soybeans occupy a very large share of farmland.

Technology and precision agriculture

The image of the farmer working only with hand tools represents an important part of modern agriculture less and less.

The following can currently be used:

• GPS-guided tractors.
• Yield maps.
• Satellite imagery.
• Drones.
• Weather stations.
• Moisture sensors.
• Automatic irrigation systems.
• Management software.
• Artificial intelligence.

These tools make it possible to observe differences within the same field. Instead of applying exactly the same amount of fertilizer or water everywhere, the farmer can adjust management according to the conditions of each area.

In 2026, for example, researchers from the INTA reported results from trials with drones and multispectral images aimed at adjusting nitrogen fertilization according to the actual condition of the crops.

The climate is part of the job

Few careers depend as much on the climate as agriculture.

Droughts, excessive rainfall, floods, hail, frosts, and heat waves can alter production and force changes to decisions made months earlier.

Farmers use weather forecasts, historical information, soil characteristics and, in some cases, sensors installed directly in the field to decide when to sow, irrigate, fertilize, or harvest.

Climate change is also increasing the need to adapt production systems. This may involve changing sowing dates, introducing more tolerant varieties, improving water management, or diversifying crops.

What is a farmer's workplace like?

Much of the work is done outdoors, but today's farmer may also spend time inside machinery cabs, a shed, a workshop, or an office.

They may work with heat, cold, dust, mud, and noise. There are also risks associated with tractors and other machines, animals, chemicals, and long working days during certain times of the year.

In the United States, for example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that many farmers work more than 40 hours per week and that working hours can increase considerably during planting and harvest.

What skills does a farmer need?

Agriculture combines practical work with decision-making.

Helpful skills include:

• Observation of plants, soil, and animals.
• Operation of machinery.
• Organization.
• Administration and cost control.
• Problem-solving.
• Negotiation.
• Interpretation of weather information.
• Use of technology.
• Long-term planning.

It is also important to be able to react to unexpected situations. A storm, a breakdown, a plant disease, or a sudden price change can alter the planning for an entire season.

What do you need to study to become a farmer?

There is no single mandatory degree to become a farmer. Many people learn by working on family farms or by gaining direct experience in the sector.

However, the growing technical and economic complexity of agriculture makes training increasingly valuable.

Related options include Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Production, Rural Administration, agricultural mechanization, horticulture, and various agricultural technical programs.

There are also specific courses on machinery, irrigation, plant protection products, organic production, business management, precision agriculture and digital technologies.

How is the career changing?

Agriculture continues to be a physical activity deeply connected to the land, but it is also becoming an increasingly information-based career.

A farmer can check a satellite image before walking a field, receive data from a weather station on their phone, use a satellite-guided tractor and later analyze yield maps to decide how to plant the following season.

At the same time, knowledge that technology does not replace remains essential: understanding how a crop behaves, knowing the soil, interpreting the weather, managing risks and deciding what to do when real conditions do not match what was expected.

That is why today's farmer can combine in a single day manual work, heavy machinery, administration, trade, agronomic science and digital technology.