Agriculture & Horticulture

Farm managers oversee the operations of agricultural facilities, making decisions that affect crop production, livestock management, equipment maintenance, and business profitability. The work involves planning which crops to plant and when, managing irrigation and fertilization schedules, supervising farm workers, maintaining equipment, negotiating with buyers and suppliers, managing budgets, ensuring regulatory compliance, and adapting operations to weather and market conditions. Modern farm management incorporates precision agriculture technologies—GPS-guided equipment, soil sensors, drone imagery, and data analytics—requiring managers to combine traditional agricultural knowledge with technological sophistication. Farm managers work long hours during planting and harvest seasons and must handle the unpredictability inherent in agriculture, from equipment breakdowns to pest outbreaks to market price swings.

Arborists are tree care professionals who cultivate, manage, and maintain trees and shrubs in urban and suburban environments. The work involves pruning trees to improve health and appearance, removing dead or hazardous trees, diagnosing and treating tree diseases and pest infestations, planting new trees with proper techniques, assessing tree risk, and providing consultation on tree preservation during construction. Arborists work from the ground and also perform climbing operations using ropes, harnesses, and aerial lifts to access tree canopies. They operate chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, and other specialized equipment. The profession requires understanding tree biology, proper pruning techniques, species identification, pest and disease recognition, and safe work practices at heights. Municipal arborists manage public tree inventories, while commercial arborists serve residential and business clients.

Farm equipment mechanics maintain and repair tractors, combines, harvesters, irrigation systems, and other agricultural machinery essential to modern farming. The work involves diagnosing mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic problems; performing scheduled maintenance; repairing or replacing worn components; calibrating and adjusting equipment for optimal performance; and troubleshooting the computerized systems that control modern farm equipment. Mechanics work at equipment dealerships, independent repair shops, and directly for large farming operations. The role requires understanding diesel engines, hydraulic systems, electrical circuits, and increasingly sophisticated precision agriculture technology including GPS guidance, yield monitors, and automated systems. Work often occurs under time pressure during planting and harvest seasons when equipment downtime costs farmers thousands of dollars daily.

Irrigation technicians install, maintain, and repair irrigation systems for agricultural operations, golf courses, landscaping, and other applications requiring managed water distribution. The work involves reading blueprints to understand system layouts, installing pipes, valves, sprinklers, and drip systems, programming irrigation controllers, troubleshooting system malfunctions, adjusting coverage for optimal water distribution, and winterizing systems in cold climates. Agricultural irrigation specialists work with large-scale pivot systems, drip irrigation for row crops, and flood irrigation management. Landscape irrigation focuses on residential and commercial properties. The role requires understanding hydraulics, electrical systems for controllers, plant water requirements, and water conservation principles. As water becomes scarcer, irrigation efficiency grows increasingly important, elevating the value of skilled technicians who can optimize systems.

Groundskeepers maintain the outdoor areas of commercial properties, educational campuses, parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and other facilities. The work involves mowing lawns, trimming shrubs and hedges, planting flowers and trees, applying fertilizers and pesticides, removing leaves and debris, maintaining walkways, operating landscaping equipment, and performing snow removal in winter climates. Advanced positions involve designing planting schemes, managing irrigation systems, and supervising landscaping crews. Golf course maintenance requires specialized knowledge of turfgrass management. Cemetery groundskeepers combine maintenance with sensitivity to families visiting graves. The role requires physical stamina for outdoor work in all weather conditions, operation of power equipment, and increasingly, understanding of sustainable landscaping practices. Many groundskeepers develop expertise in specific areas like athletic field maintenance or ornamental horticulture.