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Seed Cleaning and Conditioning Plant Manager

Seed cleaning and conditioning plant managers operate facilities that remove weed seed, foreign material, and other contaminants from seed. They also may upgrade seed to improve the quality of the product.

Also Known As

Agricultural Facility Manager

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 8252: Agricultural and Related Service Contractors and Managers

2006 NOC-S

  • I012: Agricultural and Related Service Contractors and Managers

2011 NOC

  • 8252: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

2016 NOC

  • 8252: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

2021 NOC

  • 82030: Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors

2023 OaSIS

  • 82030.01: Agricultural service contractors
Duties
Updated Mar 24, 2023

In general, seed cleaning plant managers identify weed seeds and supervise purity control of cleaned grain. They:

  • Unload grain, collect samples, and record types and weights
  • Operate cleaning (conditioning) and treating equipment, put grain in bins, and load trucks, or supervise staff who do these things
  • Discuss services to be provided with producers
  • Arrange for outside seed testing, such as testing germination
  • Maintain the facility and equipment, and arrange for repairs or upgrades
  • Maintain financial and operational records
  • Keep up with industry safety training
  • Perform job hazard assessment
  • Provide sales and customer service for retail seed sales and seed treatments
  • Arrange training and supervise plant personnel
  • Implement management policies and promote the interests of the seed cleaning facility
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 24, 2023
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Working conditions around seed plants can be dusty and noisy. However, technological improvements have reduced this problem. Some of the work involves manual labour.

The amount of lifting required varies with the type of facility. At plants that bag seed, plant managers may need to do some heavy lifting. Minimal lifting is needed at plants that do not bag seed.

Seed cleaning and conditioning plant managers must observe safety precautions to avoid injury when operating machinery and equipment. They must be comfortable with heights and variations in temperature. In some cases, they must wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

Hours of work may vary, with busiest times in the winter.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Agricultural and Related Service Contractors and Managers

2006 NOC: 8252

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
OBJECTIVE

Interest in handling machinery and equipment; and in participating in the provision of services

METHODICAL

Interest in co-ordinating and maintaining financial and operational records; and in hiring and training workers

innovative

Interest in negotiating with farmers and farm managers regarding services

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Seed cleaning plant managers need:

  • Integrity
  • Initiative and self-discipline
  • Organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
  • Mechanical skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Drive and motivation

They should enjoy operating machinery and equipment. They should like taking a methodical approach to coordinating and maintaining records. They should be at ease negotiating with farmers and farm managers.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

2016 NOC: 8252

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 189 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 07, 2023 and Dec 03, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Perform general farm duties
Team player
Work Setting: Rural area
Tasks: Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment
Attention to detail
Tasks: Ensure farm safety and bio-security procedures are followed
Tasks: Co-ordinate and supervise the work of general farm workers and harvesting labourers
Tasks: Maintain quality control and production records
Tasks: Maintain work records and logs
Work under pressure
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 24, 2023
  • Minimum Education Varies

There are no formal educational requirements for working in a seed cleaning facility. However, there are requirements for working in facilities that have been approved by the Canadian Seed Institute or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. These include a driver’s license and Grader training. Employers may prefer job applicants with related post-secondary education.

Seed cleaning plant managers must be willing to take training and upgrade skills as needed. They must know about:

  • Grain cleaning processes and technology
  • Crop types and grades
  • The Canada Seeds Act and related regulations
  • Weed seed and plant diseases identification (under the Weed Seeds Order of the Agricultural Pests Act of Alberta)
  • Seed treatments

Seed cleaning plant managers are responsible for operating a business with very few employees. For this reason, they also need a working knowledge of:

  • Setting up and adjusting seed cleaning equipment
  • Bookkeeping
  • Using relevant computer software
  • Public relations
  • Employment standards
  • Occupational health and safety laws and regulations
  • Mechanical systems for maintaining and cleaning equipment

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 24, 2023
  • Certification Provincially Regulated

Seed cleaning plant managers who clean pedigree seed must be certified by the Canadian Seed Institute. Those who dispense pesticides must be licensed. See below for details.

Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.

The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.

Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser

Pesticide applicators use pesticides (chemicals) as part of their paid employment to control pests such as weeds, diseases, or destructive insects or animals.

Pesticide dispensers sell and store pesticides as part of their paid employment.

Legislation

Under Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act [pdf] and Pesticide (Ministerial) Regulation [pdf], to apply a commercial-class pesticide such as insecticide, herbicide, or fungicide, you must be one of the following:

  • A commercial agriculturalist (farmer)
  • A certified pesticide applicator
  • Supervised by someone who is certified

To sell pesticides, you must be a certified dispenser. There are 2 types of dispensers in Alberta:

  • Lawn and garden pesticide dispensers, who sell domestic-class pesticides
  • Commercial dispensers, who sell domestic, commercial, and restricted-class pesticides

For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Seed cleaning plant managers usually start as operators in seed cleaning facilities. With on-the-job experience, they may advance to managing operator or manager.

Experienced seed cleaning plant managers may become grain elevator managers. They may become representatives for agribusiness companies, such as chemical or seed sales representatives. They also may move into agronomy (the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation, or land conservation).

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
2016 NOC: 8252

77.5% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
2021 NOC: 82030
Medium
Demand
< 1500
Employed

Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
2016 NOC: 8252
2.9%
Annual Growth
(Above Average)
54
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 24, 2023

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

2016 NOC: 8252
Average Wage
$21.92
Per Hour
Average Salary
$45,488.00
Per Year
Average Hours
45.2
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
10.8
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 8252 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.20 $28.85 $19.23 $18.00
Overall $15.50 $33.62 $21.92 $21.00
Top $16.00 $40.87 $26.54 $25.00

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Agriculture
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
43%
43%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
68%
68%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
11%
11%
Vacancy Rate
4%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Agriculture and Related Technologies
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 24, 2023

Alberta Seed Guide website: www.seed.ab.ca

Canadian Seed Institute website: csi-ics.com

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 24, 2023. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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