Farm manager

Farm managers ensure the smooth running of a farm or estate by overseeing operations and making sound business decisions

As a farm manager, you'll often specialise in animal production, dairy, or crop production, though on some farms you might deal with all three. Livestock usually includes pigs, cows or sheep. Crops can cover things like cereals, rapeseed, vegetables or salads. You'll develop strategies to maximise yields, handle administration, manage machinery and lead associated enterprises and staff.

Farms are usually owned by individual farmers or run by management firms. There are legal requirements to protect people, livestock and the environment and farms should comply with these government rules and standards.

Responsibilities

As a farm manager, you'll need to:

• plan finances and production so operations stay within budget
• do some hands-on work, such as drive tractors, operate machinery, feed animals, spray fields
• market the farm's produce
• buy supplies like seed, fertiliser, feed
• oversee maintenance and repair of buildings, machinery, equipment
• train, mentor and supervise staff or apprentices
• monitor the quality of crops or livestock yields
• factor in weather and make contingency plans
• make sure produce is ready on schedule, e.g. for markets, auctions
• ensure compliance with government regulations
• supervise animal health and welfare, and work with vets
• monitor pests and diseases and understand how they spread and how to control them
• apply health and safety across the farm
• protect the environment, maintaining biodiversity
• keep financial and operational records up to date
• apply for funding or grants where relevant.

You might also diversify income by doing things like:

• hosting bed and breakfast or holiday lets
• offering field sports or off-road activities
• generating renewable energy, e.g. wind turbines
• keeping specialty animals, such as llamas and alpacas
• running a farm shop with local produce
• creating fishing lakes
• running riding schools, livery, horse trials worm farming
• processing your own farm products, e.g. preserves, oils.

Salary

• Assistant or trainee farm managers can expect to start on salaries of £28,000.
• Farm managers generally earn upwards of £30,000.
• Experienced farm managers and those in senior consultancy or advisory roles can earn £70,000+.

Benefits can include free housing, vehicle, mobile phone, private health cover, pension scheme and bonuses.

Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll be on call day and night, 7 days a week, and during peak times (e.g. harvest, lambing, sowing) you'll often work 14 to 16 hour days.

Seasonal workers can help lighten your role during busy periods and over time, you may build a management team to share responsibilities.

What to expect

• The work may be highly stressful due to factors beyond your control.
• Fluctuations in market prices can make long-term planning difficult.
• Although some of the work can be office based, many work activities will be outside and highly dependent on the weather.
• Farming can be isolating, although many farming communities have a strong social life.
• You may need to travel occasionally, and some farms or enterprises have international links.

Qualifications

Hands-on farming experience and technical knowledge is as important as academic qualifications, and some employers may appoint you based on your experience alone.

However, a degree is greatly valued, and many farm managers have a degree or HND/foundation degree in agriculture or a related subject such as:

• agricultural engineering
• crop science or agronomy
• farm business management
• horticulture
• land/estate management.

Further study at MSc or PhD level in relevant areas is possible if you want to follow the academic route - but this usually leads to research or teaching posts, rather than farm management.

Management training schemes such as those offered by Velcourt, Management Development Services (MDS)Ìý²¹²Ô»å NSA Next generation, provide trainees for a career in farm management.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• knowledge of food production, consumer demand, food standards and sustainability
• strong organisational and time management skills
• ability to work under pressure
• experience in supervision and managing teams
• good numeracy
• willingness to work outside in all weather, and patience for repetitive tasks
• full driving licence
• self-motivation and leadership
• business awareness
• marketing and negotiation skills
• genuine passion for farming
• IT skills
• technical understanding of modern farming practices
• commitment to animal welfare
• awareness of environmental impact in farming.

Work experience

Substantial practical experience is usually required for trainee manager roles, so it's essential to get some.

Being able to evidence experience will make your application stronger and demonstrates your commitment to the role and the industry.

You can gain this in a number of ways, including a sandwich course, summer or gap-year placements or work, and many farm work experience and training opportunities are advertised online.

Examples of places offering farm experience or training:

• farm work schemes, e.g. WWOOF (international) and WWOOF UK
• graduate farm management training schemes
• temporary farm work such as harvest, lambing, etc.
• farm management companies with training slots.

Explore internship and placement opportunities early as they are highly competitive, and you'll need to apply in good time.

Farmer Gow's, based in Oxfordshire, is aimed at school and college-aged children initially, but those that continue to university are encouraged to come back for summer work experience placements.

Employers

Farm managers are employed by a range of organisations, including:

• large estates
• agricultural colleges
• research institutes and environmental agencies
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• large food producers
• smaller independent farms
• fresh produce companies
• farm management firms and consultancies.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Farmers Guardian
• Farmers Weekly
• FarmingUK
• NFU Careers
• The Cattle Site
• The Scottish Farmer

Some specialist recruitment agencies handle farm manager vacancies, including 4xtrahands and De Lacy Executive.

Professional development

If you join a graduate or management trainee scheme, your training will usually be structured and comprehensive. In other situations, most learning happens on the job.

There are also many external courses and short training programmes available to help you develop your skills and keep your knowledge up to date. This is particularly important in farming, as new technology and legislation are regularly emerging.

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector, lists regional and national training courses on topics such as animal welfare, farm conservation, business management, bookkeeping, and environmental sustainability.

You can also explore the Countryside Stewardship scheme, which is a government grant providing funding to farmer's for managing their land for public benefits.

°Õ³ó±ðÌýEnvironmental Stewardship scheme provides funding, advice and information for farmers who are interested in effective environmental management of their land.

Joining a professional body can help you build a professional network, attend events and conferences, and stay informed about industry developments. Relevant ones include:

• Institute of Agricultural Management (IAgrM)
• NFU

Career development

You'll typically start out as an assistant farm manager or by taking responsibility for a specific enterprise, such as a dairy herd or crop unit. With experience, you can progress to managing larger operations or multiple farms, each specialising in different types of production.

Because farms often focus on one area of farming, you may need to move between employers or regions to broaden your experience. Different parts of the UK specialise in specific types of farming, depending on climate and soil.

Career progression may also lead to roles in farm consultancy, advisory work for government departments such as DEFRA or agricultural education and research.

There are opportunities to work internationally, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe, where UK qualifications and experience are valued. Organisations such as Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) also offer opportunities in developing countries, combining agricultural work with community development.