Farm workers perform a variety of tasks, by hand and machine, to produce and harvest crops and to breed and rear cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
- Operates farm machinery to prepare soil, fertilise and treat crops
- Cultivates growing crops by hoeing, spraying and thinning as necessary
- Weighs and measures foodstuffs, feeds animals and checks them for any signs of disease
- Cleans barns, sheds, pens, yards, incubators and breeding units and sterilises milking and other equipment as necessary
- Treats minor ailments and assists veterinary surgeon as required
- Moves and handles livestock and tends them during birth and rearing of young
- Carries out maintenance on farm buildings, hedges, ditches and erects and repairs fences.
There are no minimum academic entry requirements. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by vocational training at an agricultural college. A variety of NVQs/SVQs in Agriculture are available at Levels 1 and 2, together with BTEC diplomas and apprenticeships in some areas.