Agronomic crop production team leader

Agronomic crop production team leaders are responsible for leading and working with a team of crop production workers. They organise the the daily work schedules for crop production and participate in the production. Their purpose is to generate profitability, maximize production growth and oversee key agronomy marketing activities in the farm.

The duties of an agronomic crop production team leader include, but are not limited to:

• Researching on plants and soil in order to develop better planting, cultivation, and harvesting techniques, improve crop yield, and solve problems facing the agriculture industry.
• Researching, developing, and promoting farming practices or products that diminish the effects of changes in soil, climate, and weather or prevent damage from pests.
• Visiting fields to collect seed, plant, and soil samples and testing samples for nutritional deficiencies, diseases, or other changes.
• Assisting with the plant selection process and the development of planting and irrigation schedules, budgets, and timelines.
• Keeping detailed records regarding fields, customers, crops, and samples.
• Generating reports and presenting findings to management, clients, or other interested parties.
• Budget plan on the production process putting in consideration the region, Number of farmers expected per year, Materials to be used per region.
• Ensuring that the produce meets both the local and international requirements including produce quality safety, legality and authenticity.
• Coordinating harvest and advising the management of daily harvesting.
• Manage the productivity team of agronomists to ensure crop production in all our projects meets and exceeds company targets based on inputs from investor partners.
• Work directly with field personnel to assist in the establishment and expansion of new crop acreage to meet seasonal production targets.
• Oversee the daily maintenance of the crop production operations necessary in producing high quality specialty crop(s).
• Inspect in the fields during all phases of the agronomy season and have continual follow up visits to assure the crops are growing accordingly.

Agronomic crop production team leaders work with other crop production workers, as the name suggests.

They work mostly outdoors, full time on a defined schedule. They may be exposed to high or low temperatures. They may also be exposed to hazardous equipment.

Agronomic crop production team leaders may need to work overtime in some circumstances to meet deadlines.

The following job titles also refer to agronomic crop production team leader:

crop team manager
crops production team leader
crop growing team leader
crop production team leaders
crop team leader
production team leader

A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agricultural economics or agribusiness management is generally required to work as agronomic crop production team leader, along with a prior working experience in management of agriculture-focused projects.

It is also possible to become an agronomic crop production team leader without formal educational credential with certificates in agriculture, horticulture, or any related field, and a significant work experience in the same field.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Agronomic crop production team leader is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to agronomic crop production team leader.

crop production manager
hop farmer
vineyard supervisor
horticulture production manager
fruit production team leader

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of agronomic crop production team leader. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of agronomic crop production team leader with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

viticulture adviser
soil surveying technician
biotechnical technician
botanical technician
footwear quality control laboratory technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of agronomic crop production team leader.

• Technical equipment for crop production: Methods for service, maintaining and adjusting of technical equipment, machines and installations used for crop production
• Environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry: Awareness on environmental legislation, policies, principles relevant for agriculture and forestry. Awareness of the impact on the environment of local agricultural procedures and practices. Means to adjust the production to new environmental regulations and policies.
• Crop production principles: Principles in growing crops, the natural cycle, nursing of nature, growth conditions and principles of organic and sustainable production. Quality criteria and requirements of seeds, plants and crop.
• Agronomical production principles: The techniques, methods and principles of conventional agronomical production.
• Soil structure: Diversity of soil elements and types of soil in relation to plant growth.
• Plant species: The variety of plants, trees and shrubs and their special characteristics. 
• Types of storage facilities: Different types of devices and facilities used to hold information and their quality criteria.
• Pest control in plants: Types and features of pests in plants and crops. Different kinds of pest control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.
• Ecology: The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.
• Fertilisation principles: The study of plant, soil structure, climatic and environmental issues in agronomical production.
• Plant harvest methods: The various methods, timing and equipment involved in harvesting different crops and plants.
• Health and safety regulations: Necessary health, safety, hygiene and environmental standards and legislation rules in the sector of particular activity.
• Plant propagation: Types of different propagation methods, materials and seeds and their criteria for health and quality.
• Plant disease control: Types and features of diseases in plants and crops. Different kinds control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.

These skills are necessary for the role of agronomic crop production team leader.

• Operate agricultural machinery: Operate motorised agricultural equipment including tractors, balers, sprayers, ploughs, mowers, combines, earthmoving equipment, trucks, and irrigation equipment.
• Maintain storage facilities: Maintain or ensure the maintenance of cleaning equipment, heating or air conditioning of storage facilities and the temperature of premises.
• Manage agricultural staff: Recruit and manage staff. This includes defining the job needs of the organisation, defining the criteria and process for recruitment. Develop the competences of the staff according current and future needs of the company and individuals. Ensure health and safety of the staff, including the implementation of all relevant health and safety procedures and relations with regular follow-up procedures.
• Harvest crop: Mow, pick or cut agricultural products manually or using appropriate tools and machinery. Taking into account the relevant quality criteria of products, hygiene prescriptions and using the appropriate methods.
• Supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings: Ensure that hygiene procedures in agricultural settings are followed, taking into account the regulations of specific areas of action e.q. livestock, plants, local farm products, etc.
• Prepare planting area: Prepare planting area and soil for planting by for example fertilising, mulching by hand or using mechanical tools or machinery. Prepare seeds and plants for sowing and planting by ensuring the quality of seed and plants. Sow and plant by hand, using mechanical tools or machinery and in accordance with national legislation.
• Prepare equipment for harvest: Prepare the equipment for harvest. Supervise the smooth running of high pressure cleaning equipment, heating or air conditioning and the temperature of premises. Carry out the smooth running of tractors and other vehicles.
• Maintain plant soil nutrition: Manage and support overall soil nutrition. Practice sustainable gardening techniques and integrated pest management in gardens both outdoor and indoor.
• Monitor fields: Monitor orchards, fields and production areas to forecast when crops will be fully grown. Estimate how much damage the weather may cause to crops.
• Execute fertilisation: Carry out fertilisation tasks by hand or using appropriate equipment according to fertilisation instructions taking into account the environmental, health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Propagate plants: Carry out propagation activities by appling appropriate propagation methods such as grafted cutting propagation or generative propagation considering the plant type. Carry out propagation control considering the required terms and conditions for specific plant type.
• Prepare planting area for planting: Prepare planting area and soil for planting by fertilising, mulching and performing weed control. Take the conditions of the area, soil and plant type into account.
• Maintain plant health: Manage and support overall plant health. Practice sustainable gardening techniques and integrated pest management in gardens both outdoor and indoor.
• Store crops: Store and preserve crops in accordance with standards and regulations to ensure their quality. Ensure that storage facilities are kept according to hygienic standards, regulating temperature, heating and air conditioning of storage facilities.
• Grow plants: Carry out plant growing activities. Carry out grow control considering the required terms and conditions for specific plant type.
• Ensure soil fertility: Analyse soil to determine type and quantity of fertiliser required for maximum production.
• Execute disease and pest control activities: Execute disease and pest control activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the climate, plant or crop type, health and safety and environmental regulations. Store and handle pesticides in accordance with recommendation and legislation.
• Maintain technical equipment: Maintain an inventory of cultivation equipment and supplies. Order additional materials as needed.
• Store products: Keep products in a safe place in order to maintain their quality. Ensure the stock facilities meet hygiene standards, regulating temperature, heating and air conditioning of storage facilities.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of agronomic crop production team leader. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Organic farming: Principles, techniques and regulations of organic farming. Organic farming or ecological agriculture is an agricultural production method, which places a strong emphasis on environmental protection and ecological balance.
• Project management principles: Different elements and phases of project management.
• Irrigation systems: The methods and systems management in irrigation.
• Watering principles: Methods, principles and systems for supplying water to land or crops by means of pipes, sprinklers, ditches or streams.
• Agronomy: The study of combining agriculture production and protection and regeneration of natural environment. Includes the principles and methods of critical selection and adequate application methods for sustainability in agriculture.
• Leadership principles: Set of traits and values which guide the actions of a leader with her/his employees and the company and provide direction throughout her/his career. These principles are also an important tool for self-evaluation to identify strengths and weaknesses, and seek self-improvement.
• Agritourism: Aspects of agritourism involving agriculturally based activities to bring visitors to a farm.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of agronomic crop production team leader. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Promote farm products: Explain the characteristics of a product and the way it was produced.
• Manage production enterprise: Organise and instruct staff, plan production strategies and programmes including sales. Carry out input purchase orders, materials, equipment and manage stocks etc. Awareness of demands of the businesses customers and adjustments accordingly to plans and strategies. Estimate resources and control budget of enterprise applying business economics, production development and project management principles.
• Supervise crop production: Supervise and analyse overall crop production in order to ensure effective production process, taking into account the environmental regulations.
• Optimise production: Analyse and identify the strengths and weaknesses of solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems; formulate and plan alternatives.
• Provide agri-touristic services: Provide services for agri-tourism activities on the farm. This may include providing B & B services, small scale catering, supporting agri-tourism activities and leisure such as riding, locally guide tours, giving information on farm production and history, selling of small-scale local farm products.
• Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes in line with any legal limitations.
• Irrigate soil: Irrigate soil using portable pipes or ditches. Maintain ditches, pipes and pumps as required.
• Perform on-farm product processing: Transform the primary farm product by tools and/or machinery into elaborated food products, respecting the quality objectives, hygiene and security legislation or rules.
• Manage agri-tourism activites: Manage staff for agri-tourism activities on the farm such as planning and promoting products and services, B & B services, small scale catering, agri-tourism activities and leisure or selling of small-scale local farm products. Train staff to carry out the different services according to the plan.
• Use agricultural information systems and databases: Use relevant information systems and databases to plan, manage and operate agricultural enterprise and production.

6111 – Field crop and vegetable growers

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Crop Production Team Leader Jobs in Johannesburg, South Africa – Advance-Africa.com
4. Crop Farmers/Managers – About the Job – Careers.govt.nz
5. Featured image: Photo by Mark Stebnicki from Pexels