National Occupation Code (NOC): 8252

Agricultural service contractors, who own and operate their own businesses, provide agricultural services such as livestock and poultry breeding, soil preparation, crop planting, crop spraying, cultivating or harvesting. Farm supervisors supervise the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers. Specialized livestock workers carry out feeding, health and breeding programs on dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, swine and other livestock farms.

Job Duties for Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

Agricultural service contractors

• Provide agricultural livestock services such as artificial insemination, spraying or shearing of livestock or disinfecting pens, barns or poultry houses
• Provide agricultural crop services such as plowing, irrigating, cultivating, spraying or harvesting
• Assist in the development and implementation of farm safety and bio-security procedures
• Hire and train workers
• Negotiate the terms of services to be provided
• Maintain financial and operational records
• May participate in the provision of services or in the operation of machinery and equipment.

Farm supervisors

• Co-ordinate, assign and supervise the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers
• Supervise and oversee breeding and other livestock-related programs
• Supervise, monitor and enforce procedures to maintain animal and crop health and welfare
• Supervise and oversee growing and other crop-related operations
• Supervise maintenance of infrastructure, equipment, and supplies
• Develop work schedules and establish procedures
• Ensure farm safety, food safety and security and bio-security procedures are followed
• Maintain quality control and production records
• May perform general farm duties.

Specialized livestock workers

• Formulate feeding programs
• Implement pasture or pen breeding programs
• Follow safety and bio-security procedures
• Recognize and treat certain livestock health problems
• Maintain livestock performance records
• Select livestock for sale
• Train horses
• Perform general farm duties
• May supervise general farm workers.

Farm supervisors may specialize in areas such as dairy, poultry, swine, beef, sheep, equine, fruit, vegetable, mixed or other specialty farming. Specialized livestock workers usually specialize in one type of farm animal such as beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry or swine.

Working Conditions for Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

Work is usually performed in livestock facilities such as barns, pens, stables, and poultry houses. Equipment usage and interactions with large animals have the risk of injury, and bacteria and virus exposure is a risk when treating ill animals.

Alternate Job Titles

• Aerial Crop Dusting Service Contractor
• Agriculture Foreman/woman
• Animal Farm Foreman/woman
• Animal Husbandry Foreman/woman
• Apple Orchard Foreman/woman
• Artificial Insemination Service Contractor
• Artificial Inseminator
• Beef Cattle Herdsperson
• Caponizing Service Contractor
• Cattle Feedlot Foreman/woman
• Cattle Herdsperson
• Cattle Ranch Foreman/woman
• Contractor - Agricultural Service
• Corral Boss
• Crop Dusting Contractor
• Crop Dusting Service Contractor
• Crop Harvesting Contractor
• Crop Harvesting Service Contractor
• Custom Combine Contractor
• Custom Combine Operator
• Custom Harvester
• Dairy Farm Foreman/woman
• Dairy Farm Workers Foreman/woman
• Dairy Herdsperson
• Dehorning Service Contractor
• Dressage And Stunt Horse Trainer
• Egg Grading Station Manager
• Farm Boss
• Farm Business Foreman/woman
• Farm Foreman/woman
• Farm Irrigating System Contractor
• Farm Machinery Custom Operator
• Farm Operation Foreman/woman
• Farm Operation Supervisor
• Farm Produce Grading Service Contractor
• Farm Produce Packing Service Contractor
• Farm Supervisor
• Farm Workers Supervisor
• Feedlot Foreman/woman
• Feedlot Herd Attendant
• Fertilization Service Contractor - Agriculture
• Field Crop And Vegetable Workers Foreman/woman
• Field Crop Foreman/woman
• Field-grown Crop Foreman/woman
• Field-grown Crop Workers Foreman/woman
• Fruit Farm Foreman/woman
• Fruit Farm Workers Foreman/woman
• Grain Crop Foreman/woman
• Grain Custom Harvester
• Hatchery Foreman/woman
• Hatchery Workers Foreman/woman
• Herd Attendant
• Herd Superintendent
• Herdsman/woman
• Herdsperson
• Hog Farm Foreman/woman
• Hog Farm Supervisor
• Hog Farm Workers Supervisor
• Hog Operation Supervisor
• Hop Farm Foreman/woman
• Horse Stable Foreman/woman
• Horse Trainer
• Irrigation Supervisor - Agriculture
• Livery Stable Foreman/woman
• Livestock Attendant
• Livestock Breeding Service Contractor
• Livestock Exchange Contractor
• Livestock Farm Workers Foreman/woman
• Livestock Foreman/woman
• Livestock Raising Foreman/woman
• Maple Products Foreman/woman - Agriculture
• Milking Services Contractor
• Mink Farm Supervisor
• Mink Ranch Supervisor
• Orchard Foreman/woman
• Pasture-managing Supervisor
• Planting And Cultivation Contractor
• Pork Production Technician
• Pork Production Technician Apprentice
• Poultry Farm Foreman/woman
• Poultry Farm Workers Foreman/woman
• Poultry Operation Supervisor
• Poultry-hatching Services Contractor
• Racehorse Trainer
• Ranch Foreman/woman
• Seed Cleaning Service Contractor
• Seeding Contractor
• Sheep Handler
• Sheep Herdsperson
• Sheep Shearing Contractor
• Shepherd
• Soil Preparation Contractor
• Soil-testing Service Contractor
• Stable Boss
• Stockyard And Herdsmen Foreman/woman
• Sugarbush Operation Foreman/woman
• Swine Herdsperson
• Tobacco Farm Foreman/woman
• Tobacco Farming Workers Foreman/woman
• Turkey Farm Foreman/woman
• Turkey Farming Workers Foreman/woman
• Vegetable Farm Foreman/woman
• Vegetable Farm Workers Foreman/woman
• Vineyard Foreman/woman
• Vineyard Workers Foreman/woman
• Weed Control Service Contractor - Agriculture
• Wool Shearing Contractor
• Farm Labour Supervisor
• Crop Labor Supervisor
• Harvest Supervisor
• Scheduled Service Technician
• Irrigation Worker
• Agriculture Service Technician
• Foreman/woman, Poultry Farm Workers
• Artificial Technician- Vacation West/central Ontario
• Technician - Vms Robotic Dairy Technician
• Irrigation Technician - Top Pay - Great Opportunity!
• Installation And Repair Technician
• Service Technician
• Professional Applicator (agriculture)
• Mill Supervisor
• Dairy Technician