Farm manager

Farm managers are responsible for the smooth, efficient running of farms. The work involves planning budgets, keeping records, managing farm workers, dealing with technical issues, and making decisions about buying and selling.

Also known as:

• Agricultural manager
• Farmer

Work activities

Farm managers are responsible for the smooth running of the farm, and for all the staff, activities and resources involved in this. They meet the needs of, and report to, the owner of the farm. One of the main aims is to make a profit, so farm managers spend a lot of their time planning and working out budgets. They can also be responsible for marketing the farm’s products and making sure products are ready for auctions or markets. The farm manager keeps and studies financial records.

Throughout the year, the farm manager follows their plan and budget closely, to avoid spending too much money and to know when they can buy more machinery or take on extra workers, among other things. Farm managers recruit workers, including temporary or contract workers to help out in very busy times. Managers are responsible for setting up training programmes, including in health and safety, so workers are able to do their jobs properly and safely. They need to have a strong understanding of practical farming, including crop nutrition and how to look after livestock. Increasingly, they also need to know about environmental and conservation issues.

The farm manager deals with any technical problems that come up. They maintain and monitor the quality of the yield, whether that is for livestock or crops. They ensure that farm activities meet with government regulations, applying health and safety standards across the farm estate. Farm managers arrange the maintenance and repair of farm buildings, machinery and equipment. At busy times, farm managers might have to help out with jobs around the farm, for example, caring for the animals, harvesting crops and driving farm vehicles. Apart from farming, managers might be responsible for other activities, such as running a farm shop or garden centre on the farm or organising visits and farm holidays.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a farm manager, you’ll need:

• Strong knowledge of farming.
• Financial awareness to plan and keep to budgets.
• IT skills for general and financial management.
• Strong planning, organisation and decision-making skills.
• The ability to get on with people (this is just as important as an interest in farming).
• Knowledge of health and safety, and environmental and conservation issues.

Depending on the size of the farm and the number of workers, you might have to help out with day-to-day jobs like harvesting crops and driving farm vehicles. This means being willing to do hard physical work and be outside in all types of weather. You are likely to need a full driving licence.

Pay and opportunities

Pay for farm managers varies depending on the type of farm and level of responsibility. The pay rates given are approximate. An assistant or trainee farm manager can expect to start on around £21,000 a year. Experienced farm managers earn in the region of £50,000. Salaries usually depend on the size of the farm.

Other benefits can include farm produce, a pension scheme and private insurance. Farm managers might also have accommodation included as part of their salary package, along with the use of a vehicle.

Farm managers usually work a 39-41-hour week. However, they might need to work long, irregular hours and weekends, especially during lambing, at harvest time and at peak selling times.

Tenant farmers, owner-occupiers and commercial organisations employ farm managers. Opportunities for farm managers occur mainly in rural areas throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers and farming magazines, on the Government’s Find a Job service, and on general and agricultural job boards.

Entry routes and training

To become a farm manager, you’ll usually need a degree, foundation degree or HND/HNC in agriculture, an agricultural science or a closely related subject. It can also be possible to enter with subjects such as business management and land/estate management. A level 4 (higher) apprenticeship in the role of assistant farm manager is also a great place to start. Some farm managers have a relevant postgraduate qualification.

You’ll usually need to have gained relevant skills and knowledge through practical farming experience before you become a farm manager. This experience could be as a supervisor or assistant farm manager, for example. There are some sandwich courses, enabling you to gain experience as part of a degree, foundation degree or HND course. You could also gain experience during university holidays or a gap year. A small number of the larger farm and farm consultancy companies run graduate management training schemes.

You could progress to managing several farms. Experienced farm managers can move into areas such as agricultural advice consultancy, teaching or technical sales.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree in agriculture or agricultural science, the usual minimum requirement is:

• Two to three A-levels, with at least one science subject. Some universities prefer biology and/or chemistry. Other acceptable subjects can include environmental studies, maths, physics and geography.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects. You might need biology and/or chemistry if you are not offering these subjects at A-level.
• A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4. Equivalent qualifications, such as Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, might be acceptable for entry.

To get onto a higher apprenticeship in this career, you will need two A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have relevant farming experience and qualifications. Working as a technician or supervisor in agriculture can lead (usually after part-time study) to entry into management-level posts.

If you don’t have the qualifications you need to enter a degree, foundation degree or HND course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check individual course details. 

Funding for further study may be available from the Studley College Trust. Candidates should see the Trust website to check on eligibility.

Related careers

• Agricultural administrator
• Agricultural consultant
• Countryside manager
• Estate manager
• Farm worker
• Farm worker
• Fish farm manager
• Forester
• Horticultural manager
• Manager