Farm worker

You would do practical and manual work on a farm. You could look after animals like cows, chickens or pigs or grow and harvest crops.

You’d operate farm machinery and do general repairs.

You could work on any of the three main types of farm:

• Farms that only have animals – livestock

• Farms that only have crops – arable

• Farms that have both – mixed

Your work would vary depending on the type of farm and the time of year.

If you work with livestock you would

• Feed the animals

• Clean (muck out) the buildings they are kept in

• Care for sick or newborn livestock

• Use milking machines with dairy cows

On an arable farm you would:

• Plough fields

• Sow seeds

• Spread fertiliser

• Spray crops with pesticides or weedkillers

• Harvest the crops

There are lots of other general tasks you’d do regardless of what type of farm you work on.

You would:

• Operate farm machinery and vehicles such as tractors and combine harvesters

• Maintain and repair farm buildings

• Lay and trim hedges

• Dig and clear ditches

• Put up and mend fences

Your work would be supervised by the farm owner, manager, supervisor or landowner. You might also supervise casual staff and agricultural contractors.

You’d need to develop technical knowledge for using the machinery and have an awareness of health and safety.

• Lantra Scotland - Training and skills for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector