There are many different routes that you can follow for a career in Agriculture and Farming, whilst the most common job that probably comes to your mind when you think of Agriculture is a Farmer, there are thousands of other options to consider! There can be manual jobs, engineering jobs, scientific jobs, sales jobs, and administrative jobs. So, whether you would prefer to work in the warmth of an office or like to be outside in all of the elements, there will be a job relating to Agriculture for you.
Just some of the job examples include:
- Farmers – Farm workers are responsible for looking after livestock, planting, and sowing, tending crops and operating various agricultural machinery. The daily duties of a farm worker may differ considerably, especially between seasons. Their various duties may include feeding farm animals, operating milking machinery, ploughing fields, sowing seeds, harvesting crops, maintaining farm buildings, and looking after farmland. They may perform these duties manually, whereas others involve machines and equipment operation. Typically, a lot of the work is done outdoors and is going to require the use of protective equipment.
- Agricultural Engineers – Agricultural engineering is closely related to mechanical engineering, as both of these specialisations work on the development and manufacture of mechanical equipment and machines. An agricultural engineer specialises in the manufacture of agricultural, forestry and horticultural machines. These could be crop harvesters, crop sprayers, irrigation equipment, cultivators, planters and much more.
- Rural Surveyor – Also known as agricultural surveyors, these professionals advise their clients on the planning and development of land for use, the related legal and tax issues and give valuations of a farm’s assets and estates. These individuals typically come from a background in rural business management, surveying, geographic information science or land use and environmental management. Rural surveyors assist with the management of rural estates, such as farms, and help produce financial forecasts. They also survey estates for potential buyers and negotiate land access with companies from other industries, like mining and utilities.
- Purchasing Agent – Purchasing agents are sales professionals who buy and sell agricultural products and related raw materials at wholesale. These can be sold to farmers or on their behalf and involves a lot of communication between agricultural professionals and others. Purchasing agents often work towards particular goals or quotas and typically manage several clients simultaneously. They can buy and sell grain, fertiliser, dairy products, animal feed and other such agricultural products. Purchasing agents can also evaluate the quality of a producer’s goods and practices, negotiate prices, sign contracts and arrange deliveries.