What Do Horticultural Supervisors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Horticultural Supervisors directly supervise and coordinate activities of agricultural crop or horticultural workers. They also assign duties, such as cultivation, irrigation, or harvesting of crops or plants, product packaging or grading, or equipment maintenance.

Other tasks include:

• Train workers in techniques such as planting, harvesting, weeding, or insect identification and in the use of safety measures.
• Confer with managers to evaluate weather or soil conditions, to develop plans or procedures, or to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, or cultivating techniques.
• Inspect crops, fields, or plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating, spraying, weeding, or harvesting.
• Review employees’ work to evaluate quality and quantity.
• Observe workers to detect inefficient or unsafe work procedures or to identify problems, initiating corrective action as necessary.
• Drive or operate farm machinery, such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters, to transport workers or supplies or to cultivate or harvest fields.

We asked Horticultural Supervisors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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60% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 55% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Horticultural Supervisors estimate labor requirements for jobs and plan work schedules accordingly. They issue equipment, such as farm implements, machinery, ladders, or containers to workers, and collect equipment when work is complete.

A typical day for a Supervisor of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Worker will also include:

• Review employees’ work to evaluate quality and quantity.
• Observe workers to detect inefficient or unsafe work procedures or to identify problems, initiating corrective action as necessary.
• Plan or supervise infrastructure or collection maintenance functions, such as planting, fertilizing, pest or weed control, or landscaping.
• Inspect crops, fields, or plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating, spraying, weeding, or harvesting.
• Perform the same horticultural or agricultural duties as subordinates.

We asked some Horticultural Supervisors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	56% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	55% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	30% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	50% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Horticultural Supervisors also requisition or purchase supplies, such as insecticides, machine parts or lubricants, or tools. They may also calculate or monitor budgets for maintenance or development of collections, grounds, or infrastructure.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Horticultural Supervisors Direct or assist with the adjustment or repair of farm equipment or machinery. They might also Prepare reports regarding farm conditions, crop yields, machinery breakdowns, or labor problems.

In addition, they Drive or operate farm machinery, such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters, to transport workers or supplies or to cultivate or harvest fields.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Perform hardscape activities, including installation or repair of irrigation systems, resurfacing or grading of paths, rockwork, or erosion control.

To some Horticultural Supervisors, it is also their responsibility to Read inventory records, customer orders, or shipping schedules to determine required activities.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Supervisor of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Worker, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/agricultural-workers.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/farmers-ranchers-and-other-agricultural-managers.htm