Farm workers or stockpersons carry out manual and practical work on farms. They work farms that are livestock (animals), arable (crops) or mixed (animals and crops).
The Work
On a livestock farm, you could be:
looking after animals like cattle, sheep, pigs, hens
feeding animals, keeping them clean and looking after them when breeding
using a milking machine to milk cows
checking animals for disease and helping prevent infection
driving a tractor to transport animal feed or livestock
mending fences, digging ditches and cutting hedges
keeping records of animals.
On an arable farm, you could be:
helping grow crops like vegetables, wheat or other grains
sowing seeds, spraying weedkillers or fertilisers and harvesting crops
preparing and packing crops for sale
driving a combine harvester or a tractor with machinery such as a plough
mending fences, digging ditches and cutting hedges
keeping records of crops.
On a mixed farm, you could be doing any of these things.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Pay rates for farm worker or stockperson are set by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board. From 1 April 2021 this is:
a minimum of £8.91 an hour – for all full and part time workers, students and casual workers – no matter what type of work is being carried out
£5.58 an hour for the first 12 months for apprentices who undertake a Modern Apprenticeship with SVQ at SCQF Level 4 or 5 in Agriculture/Horticulture or equivalent, thereafter rising to £8.91 an hour.
Workers with the same employer for more than 26 weeks and who hold a relevant qualification at SCQF Level 6 or 7 or the Certificate of Acquired Experience are entitled to an additional £1.32 an hour.
There is also a Dog Allowance for those using their own working dogs. This is £6.57 a week for each dog (up to a maximum of four dogs).
The minimum hourly overtime rate of £13.37 is payable for all workers.
You may also be provided with accommodation rent-free or at a reduced rate. Employers may deduct up to £8.36 a day for accommodation other than a house.
Conditions
Most of your work would be outdoors, in all weathers.
The conditions can be dirty, muddy and smelly.
Working with farm animals and machinery can be dangerous.
You would need to wear boots and protective clothing.
Your working hours could be long and irregular, starting early and including evenings and weekends.
You would be busier at certain times of the year than others, for example when harvesting or during lambing season.
You may have to live on the farm as part of the job.
If you enter a job straight from school, some previous work experience on a farm is useful, such as weekend or holiday work.
You may be able to train through a Modern Apprenticeship. This combines on the job and off the job training leading to relevant SVQs (SCQF Levels 5-7).
You could do a college course before starting work, for example an NC in agriculture (SCQF Level 5 or 6).
The entry requirements for these courses vary from no formal qualifications to 4 subjects at National 4 or 5 including English, Maths and a science subject. You may also need some agricultural experience.
You need to be fit enough to do strenuous work.
For some jobs a driving or tractor licence is and may be necessary, but you might work towards this during an apprenticeship or while in employment.
What Does it Take?
You need to be:
practical, reliable and hard working
responsible and safety conscious
able to work on your own and also as part of a team
able to follow instructions carefully
confident about handling large animals
careful, when working with machinery
physically fit with good stamina
interested in working in agriculture.
Training
You would train on the job under the supervision of experienced workers.
While working, you may be able to study part time at college for an NC or SVQ in an agricultural subject.
If you already have an NC or SVQ, there may be the opportunity to study part time for an HNC (SCQF Level 7).
You may do extra training in the use of specialist machinery or driving a fork lift truck.
Getting On
With suitable experience, and depending on the size of farm, you may be able to get promotion to a supervisory job.
With further qualifications and extensive experience, you may be able to move up to become a farm manager.
