Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; cleaning, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
How AI Impacts Each Task
14 tasks analyzed
Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops.
Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
Clear and maintain irrigation ditches.
Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
Dig and plant seeds, or transplant seedlings by hand.
Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.
Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 8% | |
| Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. | 50Estimated | 35.0% | 3% | |
| Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 5% | |
| Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 4% | |
| Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 15% | |
| Set up and operate irrigation equipment. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 10% | |
| Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 8% | |
| Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Dig and plant seeds, or transplant seedlings by hand. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 10% | |
| Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 5% | |
| Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops. | 59.1Observed | 56.6% | 8% | |
| Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 10% | |
| Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities. | 55Estimated | 55.0% | 6% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
Caterpillar's Monarch acquisition accelerates farm labor automation
The heavy machinery giant's purchase of a self-driving tractor startup signals a massive acceleration in agricultural automation. This consolidation means autonomous farming equipment will soon reach global scale, threatening traditional farming jobs.
USDA Launches AI Testing Network to Automate Agriculture
A new federal initiative will test AI-driven agricultural technologies aimed at cutting costs and boosting efficiency. This signals a government-backed push toward farm automation that could significantly reduce the need for manual agricultural labor.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis