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Massachusetts Farm Jobs

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Directory of Farms, Orchards, etc

Working in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts agricultural industry provides a variety of farm jobs and agricultural careers. In 2012, total agricultural outputs produced in excess of $492 million, with each individual farm valued at close to $12,000 per acre. Despite boasting one of the greatest population densities in the U.S., The Bay State calls home to roughly 7,750 farms. Southeastern and northwestern portions of the state represent the most active agricultural areas of the New England territory, with more than 16% of Franklin, Dukes, and Plymouth counties comprised of farmland. The densely populated state encompasses around 523,000 acres of land purposed specifically for crop growing or livestock raising out of a total 6.7 million acres (7.8%). Nursery and greenhouse operations also serve as considerable agricultural outputs and produce over a quarter of total domestic commodities.

One of the smallest states in the Union, Massachusetts possesses several redeeming factors, such as an eastern border along the Atlantic Ocean (1,500 miles) offering low coastal plains, which render the area ideal for farming and trade. Mostly temperate climates provide for adequate growing seasons, as well. Forests cover a vast majority of the state, and historically rocky soils in the east also limit arable farmland; however, over 250 years of colonization produced highly developed irrigation practices utilizing both the neighboring ocean to the east and the Connecticut River Valley in the western portion of the state to create ample land suitable for farming. The two areas consequently yield the largest agricultural outputs of any other regions statewide.

Massachusetts cash crops include dairy, livestock, sweet corn, apples, and cranberries. Aquaculture commodities, such as finfish, oysters, and quahogs, also contribute to the prosperity of the industry. Depending on the region, farms typically enjoy growing seasons lasting between 120 and 200 days. The state primarily experiences localized rainfalls resulting in flash erosion of top soils; however, the instances remain limited and usually only effect areas minimally. Total annual precipitation sits between 40 inches and 50 inches. Half of the annual precipitation manifests in the form of snow. Most snowfalls occur between October and March. Temperate climates create ideal circumstances for farms to successfully plant, cultivate, and harvest crops, which requires thousands of workers annually. Many farms offer picking jobs on seasonal bases as well as part-time and full-time positions.

The Ocean Spray Cooperative places Old Colony State farms among the largest cranberry farming practices in the United States. Migrant workers, pickers, and farmhands routinely find employment in the booming cranberry industry. State cranberry farming efforts produce close to 20% of the entire agricultural domestic product equaling more than $100 million. The Ocean Spray Cooperative alone provides more than 2,000 job opportunities for agricultural industry employment hopefuls. Around 400 farms in The Codfish State grow cranberries. Migrant workers regularly find cranberry picking jobs in Massachusetts in addition to local farmhands and career-aspiring administrators.

In addition to Ocean Spray Cranberries, examples of large Massachusetts agricultural businesses include the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation in Marlborough and the state department of agriculture. Both act as lucrative places of employment offering widespread opportunities for work. Nationwide, agricultural workers earned an average $18,000 annual salary in 2012. As of May 2014, vegetable pickers, fruit pickers, and general farm laborers earned median salary options around $27,000. Many large farms, including cooperatives like Ocean Spray, provide employment benefits to full-time staff members as well as flexible scheduling and discounts on crop and/or livestock yields.