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 2019 this is:

• a minimum of £8.21 an hour – for all full and part time workers, students and casual workers – no matter what type of work is being carried out
• £5.30 an hour for the first 12 months for apprentices who undertake a Modern Apprenticeship with SVQ at SCQF Level 5 in Agriculture/Horticulture, thereafter rising to £8.21 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 £1.25 an hour.

There is also a Dog Allowance for those using their own working dogs. This is £6.24 a week for each dog (up to a maximum of four dogs).

The minimum hourly rate of £11.75 is payable for all workers.

You may also be provided with accommodation rent-free or at a reduced rate. Employers may deduct up to £7.55 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 SCQF Level 5.
• 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.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2019

12702

1.8 %

RISE

2024

12933

  United Kingdom

2019

85534

0.7 %

RISE

2024

86136

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.

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.