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Farm worker

  • Hours

    39 per week

  • Starting salary

    £9,795 + per year

Farm workers do practical and manual work on a farm. As a farm worker, you could work on any of the three main types of farm: farms that only have animals, farms that only have crops, and farms that have both.

To be a farm worker, you should have the ability to do hard physical work. You will need practical skills and knowledge. You will also need to be aware of health and safety.

You do not need any particular qualifications for starting in this job, but it helps to have an interest in farming. It would also help you if you have experience of working on a farm, either through work experience or a weekend or holiday job.



The work

Your work will vary depending on the type of farm and the time of year, but can include:

  • looking after animals - such as feeding, cleaning (mucking out), caring for sick animals and using a milking machine to milk cows
  • ploughing fields, sowing, looking after and harvesting crops, spreading fertiliser and spraying crops
  • driving and looking after tractors, combine harvesters and other vehicles
  • maintenance of farm buildings
  • laying and trimming hedges
  • digging and maintaining ditches
  • putting up and mending fences.

You would be supervised by the farm owner, manager, supervisor or landowner, and you may also supervise casual staff. You will often need technical agricultural knowledge to understand the tasks you carry out.

Most jobs involve working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Farm work can be dirty and dusty and may not suit people who suffer from allergies such as hay fever.


Hours

Farming is seasonal and some times of the year are busier than others. You would normally work as least 39 hours per week, and you will be expected to work paid overtime when necessary. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work are all common.

There are also opportunities for part-time and casual work.

Farming is seasonal and some times of the year are busier than others. Early starts are common.

Most jobs involve working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Farm work can involve standing, bending, lifting and carrying. Tractor driving involves sitting for long periods of time.

Farm work can be dirty and dusty and may not suit people who suffer from allergies such as hay fever.


Income

Rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live, however there is a minimum wage for those working in England and Wales (set by the Agricultural Wages Board).

Farm workers usually earn at least £7239 a year at age 16, and £9795 a year at age 19.

Those over 19 years of age usually earn at least £14,986 a year, and experienced farm workers may earn up to £19,000 a year.

Individual employers may pay more depending on skills and experience.

Many farm workers can be given free or low rent accommodation, or a lodging allowance. Overtime may also be available.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You do not need any particular qualifications for starting in this job, but it helps to have an interest in farming. It would also help you if you have experience of working on a farm, either through work experience or a weekend or holiday job.

You may be able to start this work through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. To find out more, see the Apprenticeships website.


Training and development

Many farm workers train on the job and study part-time at college. Relevant qualifications you could gain include:

  • EDEXCEL BTEC First Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture
  • EDEXCEL BTEC Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture
  • EDEXCEL BTEC National Award, Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture
  • EDEXCEL BTEC Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma and Extended Diploma in Agriculture
  • City & Guilds National Certificate and Advanced National Certificate in Agriculture
  • City & Guilds Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture
  • City & Guilds Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma and Extended Diploma in Agriculture
  • Lantra Awards Level 2 Certificate in Land Based Activities
  • Diploma in Work Based Agriculture Levels 2 and 3, or Animal Care Level 1.

You can search for course providers on the Landex website.

You could also take short courses, such as on how to operate a particular piece of agricultural equipment, tractor driving or fork lift operation.

If your job involves tasks such as operating chainsaws and using pesticides, you will need to have relevant certificates of competence as a legal requirement. These are awarded by City & Guilds Land-based Services and by Lantra Awards. See their websites for more information.


Skills and knowledge

To be a farm worker, you should have:

  • the ability to do hard physical work
  • practical skills and technical knowledge
  • awareness of health and safety
  • communication skills and the ability to follow instructions
  • reliability, responsibility and motivation.

More information

Lantra Awards (Opens new window)
www.lantra-awards.co.uk

Lantra (Opens new window)
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk

City & Guilds (Opens new window)
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Tel: 0844 543 0000
www.cityandguilds.com

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (Opens new window)
www.defra.gov.uk


Opportunities

Employers include farm owners, commercial organisations, and universities or research institutions.

With qualifications and experience, you may be able to progress to supervisor or unit manager on a large farm. You will usually need to move from farm to farm to gain experience and promotion.

You may find the following websites useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in a new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The agricultural crops industry is part of the environmental and land-based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; equine; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self-employed.

Traditionally, the agricultural industry comprised of small, mixed farming units consisting of both livestock and crop production. The industry has since moved to large arable units specialising in large scale crop production using large tractors and machinery. The agricultural crops industry includes:

  • Combinable grains such as wheat, barley
  • Oil seeds such as rape
  • Sugar and potatoes
  • Agricultural contracting
  • Agronomy – field-crop production and soil management
  • Crop consultation – advice on the utilisation of land

Key facts:

  • There are 143,000 people working in the industry, in approximately 30,000 businesses.
  • 97% of businesses employ less than 10 staff.
  • The average age of key decision makers on farms is around 55 years, of which 50% do not have a successor in place.
  • 83% of the workforce is employed full-time.
  • 56% of the workforce is self-employed.
  • 59% of the workforce has a level 2 or above qualification.

Jobs available in agricultural crops include:

  • Trainee Farm Worker / Apprentice
  • Farm Manager
  • Tractor Driver
  • Agronomist
  • Farm Worker
  • Farm/Company Director
  • Material Handler Operator
  • Sprayer Operator
  • Combine Driver
  • Head Combine Driver
  • Assistant Farm Manager
  • Associated Roles
    • Farm Secretary
    • Packer
    • Pack-house Supervisor
    • Pack-house Manager

National and regional data

England as whole has some 27,726 agricultural crop businesses employing 121,895 people.

East Midlands – There are an estimated 20,706 employees in the regional workforce, in around 5,131 businesses.

East of England – There are an estimated 29,290 employees in the regional workforce, in around 7,486 businesses.

London and the South East – There are an estimated 19,734 employees in the regional workforce, in around 3,303 businesses in the South East and 107 in London.

North East – There are an estimated 3,641 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,022 businesses.

North West – There are an estimated 4,325 employees in the regional workforce, in around 962 businesses.

South West – There are an estimated 13,779 employees in the regional workforce, in around 2,998 businesses.

West Midlands – There are an estimated 14,028 employees in the regional workforce, in around 2,591 businesses.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 14,652 employees in the regional workforce, in around 4,127 businesses.

Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 1,973 employees in the regional workforce, in around 308 businesses.

Scotland – There are an estimated 17,199 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,593 businesses.

Wales – There are an estimated 1,649 employees in the regional workforce, in around 186 businesses.

[N.B. Data derived from IDBR, 2008 and Defra, 2008.]


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