Agriculture & EnvironmentISCO 6114
Crop production manager
Crop production managers plan the production, manage the enterprise and participate in the production process of crop production facilities.
Check yourself in a minute: crop production manager
Rate 5 of the 29 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
operate agricultural machinery
cultivate crops for biomass
maintain storage facilities
manage crop production
store crops
About crop production manager
As a crop production manager, you will oversee all aspects of agricultural operations at crop production facilities, from planning and resource allocation to hands-on management of growing and harvesting activities. You will be responsible for making critical decisions about planting schedules, pest and disease control, soil management, and equipment operation to maximize yields while maintaining sustainability and profitability. Your role combines strategic planning with operational execution, requiring knowledge of agronomical principles, crop varieties, storage systems, and modern farming technologies.
Crop production managers are pivotal to Poland's agricultural sector, which represents a vital part of the national economy and food security. You will manage agricultural staff, ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and environmental legislation, and maintain detailed records of production metrics. The position offers significant responsibility and career satisfaction, with opportunities for advancement to larger operations or specialized agricultural enterprises. Success requires strong leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of crop biology and farming practices.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a crop production manager.
1
production planning and strategy
- develop annual production plans based on crop types, soil conditions, and market demand
- determine optimal planting schedules and crop varieties for maximum yield
- plan resource allocation including seeds, fertilizers, equipment, and labor
2
crop and soil management
- apply agronomical and crop production principles to optimize growing conditions
- manage soil structure, fertility, and health through appropriate fertilization and rotation practices
- implement pest control and plant disease management strategies
3
equipment operation and maintenance
- operate and oversee operation of agricultural machinery for planting, cultivation, and harvesting
- ensure proper maintenance of farm equipment and irrigation systems
- maintain storage facilities for crops and ensure proper preservation conditions
4
team management and compliance
- assign duties to agricultural workers and supervise daily farm activities
- ensure compliance with environmental legislation, health and safety regulations
- maintain detailed production records and document crop yields, inputs, and outcomes
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (29)
environmental legislation in agriculture and forestryenvironmental legislation in agriculture and forestryAwareness 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 ...crop production principlescrop production principlesPrinciples in growing crops, the natural cycle, nursing of nature, growth conditions and principles of organic and sustainable production. Quality criterias and requirements of seeds, plants and crop.soil structuresoil structureDiversity of soil elements and types of soil in relation to plant growth.plant speciesplant speciesThe variety of plants, trees and shrubs and their special characteristics.agroforestryagroforestryThe application of land management systems and technologies that integrate trees and other woody perennials with traditional cropland farming in order to sustain agricultural production while ensuring...types of storage facilitiestypes of storage facilitiesDifferent types of devices and facilities used to hold information and their quality criterias.ecologyecologyThe study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.health and safety regulationshealth and safety regulationsNecessary health, safety, hygiene and environmental standards and legislation rules in the sector of particular activity.operate agricultural machineryoperate agricultural machineryOperate motorised agricultural equipment including tractors, balers, sprayers, ploughs, mowers, combines, earthmoving equipment, trucks, and irrigation equipment.cultivate crops for biomasscultivate crops for biomassCarry out the cultivation of crops for bio-mass, process of crops for bio-mass.maintain storage facilitiesmaintain storage facilitiesMaintain or ensure the maintenance of cleaning equipment, heating or air conditioning of storage facilities and the temperature of premises.manage crop productionmanage crop productionPerform crop production duties such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilising, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting. Supervise all steps of the crop production and ranging process, including planti...store cropsstore cropsStore and preserve crops in accordance with standards and regulations to ensure their quality. Ensure that storage facilities are kept according to hyginic standards, regulating temperature, heating a...maintain technical equipmentmaintain technical equipmentMaintain an inventory of cultivation equipment and supplies. Order additional materials as needed.store productsstore productsKeep 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.pest control in plantspest control in plantsTypes 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, environment...agronomical production principlesagronomical production principlesThe techniques, methods and principles of conventional agronomical production.plant harvest methodsplant harvest methodsThe various methods, timing and equipment involved in harvesting different crops and plants.assign duties to agriculture workersassign duties to agriculture workersAssign duties, such as the cultivation, irrigation, or harvesting of crops or plants. Supervise product packaging or grading and equipment maintenance.manage production enterprisemanage production enterpriseOrganise 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 busines...fertilisation principlesfertilisation principlesThe study of plant, soil structure, climatic and environmental issues in agronomical production.leadership principlesleadership principlesSet 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 sel...ensure soil fertilityensure soil fertilityAnalyse soil to determine type and quantity of fertiliser required for maximum production.monitor fieldsmonitor fieldsMonitor orchards, fields and production areas to forecast when crops will be fully grown. Estimate how much damage the weather may cause to crops.manage crop rotationmanage crop rotationPlan and perform crop rotation and other crop management techniques such us rotation by plant family or by nutrients requirements, to optimise soil nutrients, improve its fertility, prevent erosion as...manage agricultural staffmanage agricultural staffRecruit 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...technical equipment for crop productiontechnical equipment for crop productionMethods for service, maintaining and adjusting of technical equipment, machines and instatallations used for crop production.execute disease and pest control activitiesexecute disease and pest control activitiesExecute 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 han...plant disease controlplant disease controlTypes 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 an...
Optional (30) — show
organic farmingorganic farmingPrinciples, techniques and regulations of organic farming. Organic farming or ecological agriculture is an agricultural production method, which places a strong emphasis on environmental protection an...project management principlesproject management principlesDifferent elements and phases of project management.bioeconomybioeconomyThe production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy.irrigation systemsirrigation systemsThe methods and systems management in irrigation.watering principleswatering principlesMethods, principles and systems for supplying water to land or crops by means of pipes, sprinklers, ditches or streams.e-agriculturee-agricultureThe design and application of innovative ICT solutions in agriculture, horticulture, viniculture, fishery, forestry and livestock management.agronomyagronomyThe study of combining agriculture production and protection and regeneration of natural environment. It includes the principles and methods of critical selection and adequate application methods for ...agroecologyagroecologyThe study and application of ecological and agronomic concepts and principles to agricultural production systems.conservation agricultureconservation agricultureThe techniques, methods and principles that promote a sustainable use of land and soil in crop production. It is based on the three principles of permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance, and di...agritourismagritourismAspects of agritourism involving agriculturally based activities to bring visitors to a farm.plant propagationplant propagationTypes of different propagation methods, materials and seeds and their criteria for health and quality.apply sustainable tillage techniquesapply sustainable tillage techniquesApply sustainable tillage techniques such as conservation tillage or no till farming in order to minimise the impact on soil.promote farm productspromote farm productsExplain the characteristics of a product and the way it was produced.apply alternate wetting and drying techniquesapply alternate wetting and drying techniquesImplement alternate wetting and drying techniques in rice cultivation by applying irrigation water a few days after the disappearance of ponded water. Use a water tube to monitor water depth.prepare equipment for harvestprepare equipment for harvestPrepare 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 tracto...maintain plant soil nutritionmaintain plant soil nutritionManage and support overall soil nutrition. Practice sustainable gardening techniques and integrated pest management in gardens both outdoor and indoor.execute fertilisationexecute fertilisationCarry out fertilisation tasks by hand or using appropriate equipment according to fertilisation instructions taking into account the environmental, health and safety regulations and procedures.optimise productionoptimise productionAnalyse and identify the strengths and weaknesses of solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems; formulate and plan alternatives.propagate plantspropagate plantsCarry out propagation activities by appling appropriate propagation methods such as grafted cutting propagation or generative propagation considering the plant type. Carry out propagation control cons...provide agri-touristic servicesprovide agri-touristic servicesProvide 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 gu...present the farm facilitiespresent the farm facilitiesPerform customer adapted presentations of the farm organization and farm processes taking under consideration the farm sustainability and local environment.manage contractsmanage contractsNegotiate 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, ...maintain plant healthmaintain plant healthManage and support overall plant health. Practice sustainable gardening techniques and integrated pest management in gardens both outdoor and indoor.irrigate soilirrigate soilIrrigate soil using portable pipes or ditches. Maintain ditches, pipes and pumps as required.perform on-farm product processingperform on-farm product processingTransform the primary farm product by tools and/or machinery into elaborated food products, respecting the quality objectives, hygiene and security legislation or rules.grow plantsgrow plantsCarry out plant growing activities. Carry out grow control considering the required terms and conditions for specific plant type.manage agritourism activitiesmanage agritourism activitiesManage 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-s...use agricultural information systems and databasesuse agricultural information systems and databasesUse relevant information systems and databases to plan, manage and operate agricultural enterprise and production.prepare planting areaprepare planting areaPrepare 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 qualit...harvest cropharvest cropMow, pick or cut agricultural crop products manually or using appropriate tools and machinery. Taking into account the relevant quality criteria of products, hygiene prescriptions and using the approp...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a crop production manager do?
Crop production managers plan the production, manage the enterprise and participate in the production process of crop production facilities.
What skills does a crop production manager need?
A crop production manager needs 29 essential skills, including environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry, crop production principles, soil structure, plant species, agroforestry.
Will AI replace crop production manager jobs?
The AI disruption score for crop production manager is 20/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: health and safety regulations, types of storage facilities, monitor fields. Most resilient: provide agri-touristic services, agritourism, leadership principles.
AI Replacement Risk
20/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupMarket-oriented skilled agricultural workers
Essential Skills29
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