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 2017 this is:

• a minimum of £7.50 an hour – for all full and part time workers, students and casual workers – no matter what type of work is being carried out
• £4.40 an hour for the first 12 months for apprentices who undertake a Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture/Horticulture, thereafter rising to £7.50 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 £1.14 an hour.

There is also a Dog Allowance for those using their own working dogs. This is £5.60 a week for each dog (up to a maximum of four dogs).

You may also be provided with accommodation rent-free or at a reduced rate. Employers may deduct £6.00 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.

Getting In

• A good general education is useful.
• 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 Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).
• You could do a college course before starting work, for example a National Certificate (NC) in agriculture or relevant SVQ at Level 2.
• 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.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2018

12254

4.5 %

FALL

2023

11729

  United Kingdom

2018

80606

0.6 %

RISE

2023

81074

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

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 a Higher National Certificate (HNC).
• 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.

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Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.