FARM AND HOME MANAGEMENT ADVISOR

Job Definition:

Job Description:

• Advise, instruct, and assist individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home economics activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to solve problems; instruct and train in product development, sales, and the utilization of machinery and equipment to promote general welfare. Includes county agricultural agents, feed and farm management advisers, home economists, and extension service advisors.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Act as an advocate for farmers or farmers’ groups.
• 2) Collect and evaluate data in order to determine community program needs.
• 3) Conduct agricultural research, analyze data, and prepare research reports.
• 4) Maintain records of services provided and the effects of advice given.
• 5) Organize, advise, and participate in community activities and organizations such as county and state fair events and 4-H Clubs.
• 6) Prepare and distribute leaflets, pamphlets, and visual aids for educational and informational purposes.
• 7) Provide direct assistance to farmers by performing activities such as purchasing or selling products and supplies, supervising properties, and collecting soil and herbage samples for testing.
• 8) Research information requested by farmers.
• 9) Set and monitor production targets.
• 10) Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
• 11) Collaborate with producers in order to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
• 12) Collaborate with social service and health care professionals in order to advise individuals and families on home management practices such as budget planning, meal preparation, and time management.
• 13) Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
• 14) Conduct field demonstrations of new products, techniques, or services.
• 15) Schedule and make regular visits to farmers.

Activities:

• 1) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 2) Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• 3) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 4) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 5) Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• 6) Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• 7) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 8) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 9) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• 10) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 11) Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• 12) Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• 13) Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• 14) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• 15) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 16) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 17) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 18) Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• 19) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Abilities:

• 1) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• 2) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 3) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 4) Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• 5) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 6) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• 7) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 8) Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• 9) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 10) Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
• 11) Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Knowledge

• 1)  Food Production — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• 2) Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• 3) Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• 4) Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• 5) Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.