Farm Manager

Busey Bank; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Busey Bank seeks a Farm Manager to oversee and execute farmland ownership goals for clients, including both in-office and on-farm activities related to production and financial management.

The role involves managing portfolios, securing lease agreements, performing site visits, reviewing financials, and liaising with clients and tenants to support land maintenance, crop planning, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an agricultural-related field or relevant work experience.
• Strong knowledge of general agricultural principles.
• Accounting principles and financial literacy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Oversee portfolio of farm accounts.
• Secure farm management agreements through prospecting, analysis, and sales.
• Determine goals of farmland owners and implement plans to achieve them.
• Develop and maintain farm lease agreements with qualified farm operators.
• Conduct site visits to properties to evaluate operations and prepare client reports.
• Review periodic financial reports for client submission.
• Communicate with clients and internal teams for day-to-day management and updates.
• Distribute funds from accounts as requested by clients.
• Meet approximately three times per year with farm tenants to discuss leases, land maintenance, fertility, and crop planning.

Skills

Agricultural knowledge

Oral & written communication

Accounting principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in agricultural-related field

Professional licensing & accreditation

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Summary

The Farm Manager determines and carries out the goals and objectives of farmland owner clients. This position acts as farmland property manager in terms of overseeing all activities relating to farmland ownership for our clients. This includes both in office and on-farm activities related to both the physical production of farm commodities as well as the financial management of those activities.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee portfolio of farm accounts.
• Secure farm management agreements through prospecting, analysis, and sales.
• Determine goals of farmland owners and implement plans to achieve.
• Develop/maintain farm lease agreements with qualified farm operators.
• Make site visits to properties for purpose of evaluating operation, dictating reports to communicate with clients.
• Review periodic financial reports for submission to clients as requested.
• Communicate with clients internal and external required for day to day management along with recommendations to owners, reporting, and updates.
• Distribute funds from accounts as requested and desired by clients.
• Meet, on average, three times per year with farm tenant to discuss items related to various farming operations, such as financial settlements between owner account and tenants, farm lease renewal/termination, and crop planning, including discussion of things such as land maintenance, building care and oversight, drainage and drainage district issues, fertility, tillage and cultural practices, chemical selection, crop rotation, hybrid and variety selection, soil testing, material application methods, government farm program and all related management issues required for farm property oversight.
• Attend continuing education seminars as required.

Education & Experience

Knowledge Of

• Strong knowledge of general agricultural principles.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Accounting principles.

Ability To

• Analyze assignments based on a wide knowledge of many factors where application of advanced or technical concepts are required.
• Maintain visual attention and mental concentration for extended periods of time.
• Perform duties and make decisions under frequent time pressures.

Education And Training

• Requires bachelor’s degree, preferably in an agricultural-related field or relevant work experience.
• Professional licensing and accreditation are required (if unlicensed and/or unaccredited upon hire, new farm managers will pursue both in a timely manner).
• Requires knowledge of Microsoft Office.