We use cookies to improve and customise your experience, for analytics and metrics, and to track any purchases you make both on this website and on others. To find out more about the cookies we use see our cookie policy
More info
- Run your own farm or work to manage someone else's farm
- You'll need both agricultural and business skills and knowledge
- Progress by growing the business or running your own farm
As a farmer you could work on one of the main types of farm: Livestock (animals), Arable (crops) or Mixed (animals and crops). You may also have responsibility for other areas like a farm shop, horse riding facilities or tourist accommodation.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Plan how the farm will run
- Set budget and production targets
- Buy and sell animals or produce
- Keep financial and stock records
- Recruit, train and supervise staff
- You also may do practical farm work, like looking after livestock, driving tractors and other machinery, or harvesting crops
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You may be provided with rent-free accommodation or a vehicle if you are working on someone else's farm. You may also get other benefits like farm produce. Your hours will vary depending on the time of year. At busy times you're likely to work long hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends. You'll work in an office and also outside in all weather conditions.
You'll need
This role is ideal for someone who likes to work outdoors and with their hands and enjoys being around farm animals.
There are no set requirements, but you'll need to gain practical farming experience by working on a farm or in a similar setting.
You can get valuable experience and move into farm management by working as a supervisor, dairy or arable unit manager, or assistant manager.
You could take qualifications on the job like the Level 4 Certificate in Work-based Agricultural Management.
Or you could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in agriculture, land management, farm business management or crop and livestock production. Courses and qualifications are available through agricultural colleges as well as universities.
You could also start in farming by doing a relevant college course like Level 2 Certificate in Land-based Activities or Level 3 Diploma in Agriculture. This would teach you some of the skills and knowledge needed in this job.
Alternitively you could work towards this role through an advanced apprenticeship in agriculture. This will usually take 18 months to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.
You could do a higher apprenticeship in agricultural business management if you already have a lot of farming experience.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could move into other areas, like agricultural advisory work for government bodies, consultancy or teaching.