Home

Farm Manager

Do you want to become a Farm Manager? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Farm managers either run their own farm or are employed to run a farm efficiently and profitably for someone else. There are three main types of farm:

• livestock - raising animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry
• arable - growing crops such as cereals (wheat, barley, maize and oats), potatoes, sugar beet, vegetables and oil seed rape
• mixed - combining livestock and arable farming.

More and more farms are now turning organic, with only limited use of certain chemicals.

The work includes:

• organising and supervising the running of the farm
• keeping records
• managing the environmental impact of the farm on the local landscape
• marketing and selling produce
• some of the day-to-day practical work on the farm
• other activities such as managing a farm shop or offering bed and breakfast.

There are no set hours for farm managers and they are likely to work long hours at busy times, with early morning, evening and weekend work likely. Practical work on the farm is usually outdoors in all weather conditions.

Salaries may range between £16,000 and £50,000, or more.

A farm manager should:

• have a total commitment to farming
• have business management and marketing skills
• be interested in and understand how farming can impact on the environment.

There are opportunities for farm managers in rural areas throughout the UK. However, the number of farm managers in the UK may be decreasing as farms become larger.

Farm managers need several years' experience in farming, usually as a supervisor or unit manager, so young people are unlikely to go straight into this job. Most entrants study for relevant NVQs/SVQs, HNDs, degrees or postgraduate qualifications. There is no upper age limit for entry to this work.

Farm managers must keep their skills up to date and may attend short courses at agricultural colleges or study by distance learning.

Large farms have promotion possibilities. Experienced farm managers can also move into other work such as technical sales or consultancy. There may also be opportunities to work abroad.

More Useful Resources - Farm Manager:

Do you know of a useful and relevant website that would be helpful to our users? Tell us about it by emailing