Agricultural contractor

Agricultural contractors provide services to farmers, like crop planting and spraying, harvesting and animal management.

• Typical hours44 to 50 a week

What you'll do

As an agricultural contractor, you could:

• process, mill and plant seeds
• spray and fertilise crops
• harvest and bale crops
• help with animal husbandry, like breeding calves and lambing
• repair and maintain fences, hedges and dry stone walls
• service agricultural machinery
• carry out excavation or drainage work

Working environment

You could work on a farm.

Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of food production methods
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• persistence and determination
• the ability to motivate and manage staff
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to become a agricultural contractor

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

College

You could take a course at an agricultural college, which may be useful when you start looking for work.

Courses include:

• land based studies and technology
• agriculture
• T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, for example:

• General Farm Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Land Based Service Engineer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Livestock Unit Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Land Based Service Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Direct application

You could apply directly to become an agricultural contractor. Employers will expect you to have experience of working on a farm and operating agricultural machinery.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• have a Certificate of Competence , if you carry out hazardous tasks using a chainsaw

Driving vehicles like lorries, tractors, harvesters and fork lift trucks can be part of your work. You can find out more about driving specialist vehicles from GOV.UK .

Career path and progression

With experience, you could specialise in offering particular services, like crop management.

You could also work for private companies or co-operatives that offer management services to farms.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the National Association of Agricultural Contractors for industry training and professional development.

Guides for this industry

• Environmental Sciences: pay, interviews and getting started →

Related roles

• Job roleFarm worker
• Job roleFarmer
• Job roleAgricultural engineering technician
• Job roleAgricultural inspector
• Job roleGamekeeper

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