Spanish for Farm and Agriculture Managers: 80+ Field Phrases

Quick answer: Essential Spanish for farm and agriculture managers includes la cosecha (harvest), el surco / la fila (row), el campo (field), el riego (irrigation), los pesticidas (pesticides) and instructions like Hoy vamos a cosechar la fila tres (Today we’re harvesting row three) and Tome agua y descanse en la sombra (Drink water and rest in the shade). This guide has 80+ words and phrases for daily work, crops, livestock, equipment, safety and pay, with a free PDF.

Agriculture runs on bilingual teams. Farm managers, crew leaders, ranch supervisors and nursery and greenhouse managers who can give clear instructions in Spanish get safer, faster work and fewer misunderstandings. All phrases use the respectful usted (or ustedes for a group).

Starting the day

• Buenos días. Hoy vamos a trabajar en el campo número dos. – Good morning. Today we’re working in field number two.
• Primero vamos a cosechar, después vamos a empacar. – First we’ll harvest, then we’ll pack.
• Ustedes cuatro, vengan conmigo. – You four, come with me.
• ¿Quién falta hoy? – Who’s missing today?
• Terminamos a las tres. – We finish at three.

Field and crop vocabulary

English	Español	English	Español
field	el campo	row	el surco / la fila
harvest (noun / verb)	la cosecha / cosechar	to pick	pizcar (Mexico) / recoger
to plant	sembrar / plantar	to prune	podar
to weed	deshierbar / quitar la maleza	to thin	ralear / aclarar
irrigation	el riego	drip line	la cinta de goteo
seed / seedling	la semilla / la plántula	greenhouse	el invernadero
bin / crate / bucket	el bin / la caja / la cubeta	ripe / green	maduro / verde
fertilizer	el fertilizante / el abono	orchard / vineyard	la huerta / el viñedo

Giving instructions in the field

• Hoy vamos a cosechar la fila tres. – Today we’re harvesting row three.
• Corten solo la fruta madura. – Cut only the ripe fruit.
• No dejen fruta en el suelo. – Don’t leave fruit on the ground.
• Llenen las cajas hasta aquí, no más. – Fill the crates up to here, no more.
• Pongan las cajas llenas al final del surco. – Put the full crates at the end of the row.
• Hágalo así, con cuidado. – Do it like this, carefully.
• Revisen el riego en el campo cinco. – Check the irrigation in field five.
• Cierren la válvula cuando terminen. – Close the valve when you’re done.

Livestock and dairy

English	Español	English	Español
cattle / cow / calf	el ganado / la vaca / el becerro	barn / corral	el establo / el corral
to milk / milking parlor	ordeñar / la sala de ordeña	feed / to feed	el alimento / alimentar, dar de comer
water trough	el bebedero	sick / injured animal	el animal enfermo / herido

• Den de comer a los becerros a las seis. – Feed the calves at six.
• Si ve un animal enfermo, avíseme. – If you see a sick animal, tell me.
• Limpien el establo antes de la ordeña. – Clean the barn before milking.

Equipment and tractors

• el tractor / el remolque / la cosechadora – tractor / trailer / harvester
• Solo las personas autorizadas manejan el tractor. – Only authorized people drive the tractor.
• No se suba al tractor si no hay asiento. – Don’t ride on the tractor if there’s no seat.
• Apague la máquina antes de limpiarla. – Turn off the machine before cleaning it.
• Manténgase lejos de las partes que giran. – Stay away from moving parts.

Heat, pesticides and safety

• Tome agua cada quince minutos, aunque no tenga sed. – Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you’re not thirsty.
• Descanse en la sombra. – Rest in the shade.
• ¿Se siente mareado? Siéntese aquí. – Do you feel dizzy? Sit here.
• No entren al campo. Se aplicaron pesticidas. – Don’t enter the field. Pesticides were applied.
• Respeten las señales de entrada restringida. – Follow the restricted-entry signs.
• Lávense las manos antes de comer. – Wash your hands before eating.
• Use guantes, manga larga y sombrero. – Wear gloves, long sleeves and a hat.

For more, see our safety Spanish phrases, which cover heat illness and first aid in detail.

Hours, pay and paperwork

• Se paga por hora / por caja / por contrato. – Pay is by the hour / by the crate / by contract.
• El día de pago es el viernes. – Payday is Friday.
• Anote sus horas en la hoja. – Write your hours on the sheet.
• ¿Puede trabajar el sábado? – Can you work on Saturday?
• Necesito que firme aquí. – I need you to sign here.

Feedback and respect

• Buen trabajo, gracias. – Good work, thanks.
• Vamos bien. Faltan dos filas. – We’re doing well. Two rows to go.
• Si tiene algún problema, hable conmigo. – If you have any problem, talk to me.

Spanish training for farm and agriculture teams

Our Spanish training for supervisors works for farm managers, crew leaders and ranch supervisors: live group lessons by role plus a self-study course on the phone, built around the instructions your crews hear every day. We can add custom lessons from your own safety and harvest procedures. Need English for your crews instead? See English training for companies.