Crop and Livestock Producer

As a crop and livestock producer, you are an agricultural practitioner who works for or owns operations that grow crops, raises livestock, or both. You direct operations for animal breeding, feeding, and health, most commonly for cattle, pigs, chickens, and turkeys. Part of your responsibilities is to pay close attention to the impact your operations have on the environment, for example keeping waterways clear of animal waste. Crop farming also requires environmental stewardship, particularly when it comes to conservation of soil and water and the use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. In order to keep the businesses going year after year, you maintain a keen interest in sustainable agriculture and sound environmental practices.

At a Glance

Imagine it is early in the morning and the sky is still dark, but you have already had your breakfast and are stepping out the door to go to work. You are a crop and livestock producer and your mornings always begin this early at this time of year. You hop in your truck and head over to your corrals to begin the morning's chores of forking hay and spreading buckets of grain for the cows to eat. After the animals are fed, you will drive out to check the fields. This is springtime and you are anxiously waiting for conditions to be right to start seeding.

As a crop and livestock producer, you must weigh a number of factors when making decisions about seeding your crops. First, you need to decide which crops to plant in what field. You check records of what has been planted in each field in years past to give you an idea of what state the soil will be in since different crops remove different amounts of nutrients from the soil. You also consult with local agronomists on crop varieties and soil conditions. With an idea of what the soil will support, you can decide what crop to plant. Now you must decide when to plant. This is a tricky decision given Canada's short growing season: you don't want to plant too early or too late. You carefully follow the weather forecasts each day so you'll know when the ground begins to warm up and there isn't as much frost at night.

This is important because if conditions are too cold, your seed won't germinate. You also have to make certain the soil's moisture content is just right. If the soil is too wet or dry, your seed won't germinate either. At this time of year, you keep a keen eye on all kinds of environmental conditions to help make critical decisions and get your year started on the right track.

Crop and Livestock Producer

At a Glance

Job Duties

Work Environment

Where to Work

Education and Skills

Role Models

Pirmin Kummer

Your Impact

Occupational Classification

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