Their output is influenced by disease, weather, changes in prices of farm products, and Federal farm programs. They must determine the time of planting, decide what to grow or raise, and secure loans. Farmers and ranchers need to understand Federal and State regulations that apply to farming. Large farms have employees do much of the physical work. Farmers on small farms do it themselves.
Most farms have the farmer and one or two family workers or hired employees.
However, some large farms may have 100 or more full-time and seasonal workers. The owners of a very large livestock farm may employ a farm manager. This person may oversee a single activity such as feeding livestock. When managing a small crop farm for an absentee owner, a farm manager may take over all functions. Farm management firms and corporations involved in agriculture employ highly trained professional farm managers.