The role of a Farm Director is only likely to be found on a large farming company or estate. On smaller farms, the Farmer or Farm Owner will often also carry out tasks similar to a Director.

As a Farm Director, the key focus is to work with the Farm Manager to oversee all farm management activities to ensure effective implementation of farm management and production plans. Directors have many business responsibilities for ensuring the success of their company, in areas such as health and safety, employment law and tax.

Shareholders own limited companies but they don't run them - that job is given to a Farm Director. All limited companies must have at least one Director. A public limited company (or plc) must have at least two Directors. Some farms will be limited companies and others private partnerships or sole traders. The level of responsibility of a Director will depend on the business status.

A Farm Director’s key responsibilities will include:

• Planning activities
• Managing activities
• Financial management
• Human Resources management
• Programmatic effectiveness
• Public and community relations.

Whether a limited company or public limited company, Farm Directors have a responsibility to prepare and deliver documents on behalf of the company to Companies House (The official UK government register of UK companies) as and when required by the Companies Act. These include, in particular:

• The annual return to Companies House
• File the annual accounts to Companies House
• Notification of any change in the company's officers or in their personal details to Companies House
• Notification of a change to the company's registered office to Companies House
• Allotment of shares
• Registration of charges.

Working Conditions 

Most Farm Directors will be expected to work standard full-time hours. However, in practice many may work longer hours. Farm Directors are likely to spend time in an office dealing with paperwork and communications.

On a smaller farm, the Director may get involved in some of the farming tasks, and their management.

A driving licence is usually essential.

Next steps

Farm Directors will gain further experience over the years and could progress to being a Director of a larger company.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

An Egg Collector in the poultry industry collects eggs laid by birds. These are mainly laying hens which are especially reared for this purpose, but ducks, geese and turkeys may also lay eggs for the food chain.

Egg producing birds are known as ‘layers’ and can continue laying from 20 until 70 weeks of age. Poultry producers usually purchase their layers or birds from other breeder farms.

There are various systems of keeping laying hens. Some will be kept in enriched cages, which provide more space and include a nest, litter, perch and clawing boards, others are kept free range in barns or free range systems in field paddocks where they can roam and behave naturally.

Birds producing hatching eggs are generally kept in controlled environment open housing.

It is the role of an egg collector to find and collect eggs according to the farming system. Eggs may be sold directly into the food chain, or hatched to produce young birds.

Working Conditions 

Egg Collectors generally work as least 39 hours per week, but this may be in the form of shifts.

Early mornings, evenings and weekend work are all common. There are also options for part-time and casual work.

Next steps

With further training and experience, an Egg Collector could gain promotion to a Stockperson, or an Assistant Farm Manager.

Due to the size and structure of the poultry industry there are many opportunities to progress and move between farms and companies.

The British Poultry Training Initiative keeps a record of all the training you have completed, similar to a CV, called the Poultry Passport. This can be accessed and updated as you progress through the industry and between poultry industry employers.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

A Relief Milker works in the dairy industry and supplies relief cover to dairy farms. This means that when dairy farms become short-staffed due to holidays, staff leaving or illness, the Relief Milker can be called in to milk the dairy cows.

A dairy farm will have a herd of dairy cows which are managed to produce a calf each year, which allows milk production to continue. The cows have a routine which normally involves milking taking place at the same time each day, usually twice a day.

A Relief Milker will have experience of working on a range of dairy farms using different types of milking machines in different sizes and types of parlour. Relief Milkers will be aware of any potential problems and monitor how well each cow milks. Specific cow identification tags are detected by the machine and it automatically records how much milk has been produced by each cow. After getting guidance from the herdsperson or manager on the methods and procedures used on that farm, the Relief Milker can milk the cows. This includes bringing the animals in from their grazing field, feeding them, operating the milking machines and connecting to the correct milk storage tank, cleaning the cows’ udders, moving them to the correct field or building and then cleaning and washing down the parlour.

Working Conditions 

Relief Milkers are usually self-employed or employed by a company that offers relief staff for farms. The first milking of the day may take place anytime from 2am and last several hours, with the second late in the afternoon on the same day. Relief Milkers have to be very flexible according to the farm’s milking schedule and are more likely to work shifts as opposed to normal working hours.

Some dairy cows are kept indoors all year round and fed on cut grass, silage, maize with special dairy feed, whereas other farms leave the cattle to graze grass outside for most of the year, just keeping them inside for the winter months. Many farmers do a mixture of both production systems depending on their grass growth, soil conditions and dairy breeds. A Relief Milker would expect to work mainly within the milking parlour during milking.

Next steps

With the right qualifications and experience in managing a herd of milking cows, a Relief Milker could gain a role as Herdsperson employed on a dairy farm where there is a team managing the dairy enterprise.

There is competition for these vacancies and it’s common for people to move from farm to farm to gain experience and promotion. Working on a larger farm offers more opportunities to specialise.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

Contract Rearers are responsible for looking after cattle owned by other farmers and businesses.

A farmer who doesn’t have the time, staff, buildings or land to raise all his cattle will ask a Contract Rearer to do it instead. At the end of the contract, the cattle may go back to the farmer, who owns them, or be sold.

A Contract Rearer has responsibility for health, welfare, and the performance of the dairy cattle. The Contract Rearer will be paid to ensure that the cattle meet growth targets and are in good health.  

Depending on the number of cattle, a Contract Rearer may also have some responsibility for staff, such as a Stockperson and Farm Workers. On some smaller scale units, a Contract Rearer may carry out both the management and everyday tasks, and contract rearing cattle may form just part of his overall farming business.

The benefits of Contract Rearing are considerable. It enables farmers to expand without investing in further buildings or land, whilst the Contract Rearers can use their buildings or land to create an income.

The most common contract arrangement is heifer (female cattle) rearing. The group of female calves which have been produced by a milking herd are usually reared by hand or by a machine that feeds them milk, and they are also fed hay, straw and a special formulated feed. The female calves are grown on with the aim of joining the milking herd once they get to two years old.

Often dairy farmers will arrange for a Contract Rearer to raise the heifer to the correct size and weight, until they are ready to join the milking herd.

Working Conditions 

Contract Rearers generally work as least 39 hours per week. Many will be self- employed. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work can be needed.

On all but the very large farms, a Contract Rearer would be a-hands-on role, and required to cover for their stockman or farm worker, if necessary.

The working conditions will depend on the farm. Some dairy cattle are kept indoors and fed on straw and hay with grain, whereas other farms leave the cattle to graze grass outside for most of the year, bringing them in for the winter months, many farmers do a mixture of both production systems depending on their grass growth, soil conditions and cattle breeds.

A Contract Rearer would work both outside and in livestock buildings.

Next steps

Contract Rearers may move into other work such as technical sales, consultancy and teaching, or work as an agricultural adviser.

It may also be possible to work with private companies, consultancies and co-operatives that offer farm management services.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Soil Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

Contract Lambers are contracted by farmers and travel from farm to farm to assist with lambing in the spring.  They generally also help with shearing in the summer months.

A sheep farm will have a range of animals of different ages. Farmers who breed sheep will keep a flock of female sheep or ‘ewes’. Commercial flocks vary from a few hundred to a few thousand. Male breeding sheep, or ‘rams’, are placed with a group of ewes 5 months before the farmer wants for the ewes to give birth or ‘start lambing’.

This is usually in the spring, when there is plenty of grass to feed the ewes and lambs, although some sheep breeds can become pregnant and lamb outside of the natural lambing season.

The ewes rear their lambs until they are old enough to eat only grass and sheep feed, and the lambs are then weaned off the ewes. The group of lambs are kept until they are the correct weight and fatness and are then sold for meat through markets and abattoirs.

Some farmers without a flock of ewes will buy lambs to eat their grass and to fatten for the food chain. Farmers take pride in producing a high quality animal meeting high welfare standards and Contract Lambers are part of this process.

A Contract Lamber may also carry out general tasks such as:

• Feeding
• Maintaining accommodation
• Maintaining the health and welfare of livestock.

They work under the supervision of the Shepherd, Farm Manager or even the land owner who owns or rents the land.

Working Conditions 

Contract Lambers generally work at least 39 hours per week but may need to do paid overtime during busy periods.

Early mornings, evenings and weekend work can be part of the lambing period.

The working conditions will depend on the farm. Many sheep are kept outside for most of the year but may be brought in for lambing.

Next steps

With the right qualifications and experience, Contract Lambers can gain promotion to a Shepherd or Farm Manager. There is competition for these vacancies, and movement from farm to farm to gain experience and promotion is usual.

Working on a larger farm offers more opportunities to specialise.

For those wishing to progress into farm management a degree in subjects such as agriculture and animal or farm management may be an option.

There may also be opportunities to work abroad.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Soil Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

Contract Finishers are responsible for looking after livestock owned by other farmers and businesses.  A farmer that does not have the time, staff, buildings or land to ‘finish’ all the livestock for slaughter, will ask a Contract Finisher to carry out this last stage.

The benefits of contract finishing are considerable. It enables farmers to expand without investing in further buildings or land, whilst the Contract Finishers can use their buildings or land to create an income. 

The farmer maintains ownership of the livestock. A Contract Finisher has responsibility for health, welfare and the performance of the livestock. The Contract Finisher will be paid to ensure that the livestock meet growth targets and are in good health.

The livestock are moved through various stages as they grow, from ‘weaning’ to ‘growing’ and finally to ‘finishing’. At the end of the contract, the livestock will be the correct fatness and weight to be sold directly to the abattoir.

Depending on the number of livestock, a Contract Finisher may also have some responsibility for staff, such as Stockperson and Farm Workers.

On some smaller scale units, a Contract Finisher may carry out both the management and everyday tasks, and contract finishing animals may form just part of the overall business.

Working Conditions

A Contract Finisher generally would work as least 39 hours per week and many Contract Finishers will be self employed. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work can be necessary.

On all but the very large farms, a Contract Finisher would be a-hands-on role and will be required to cover for their Stockman or Farm Worker if necessary.

The working conditions will depend on the farm. In order for livestock to reach the correct fatness and weight the majority are finished indoors in sheds or sometimes open air pens, as opposed to outdoors in fields.

Next steps

Contract Finishers may move into other work such as technical sales, consultancy and teaching, or work as an Agricultural Adviser.

It may also be possible to work with private companies, consultancies and co-operatives that offer farm management services.

All agricultural workers need to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in their sector.

For those wishing to progress into farm management, a degree in subjects such as agriculture and animal or farm management may also be an option.

There may also be chances to work abroad.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Soil Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

A Contract Breeder will have a breeding farm or units and be responsible for breeding livestock owned by other farmers and businesses who don’t have the time, staff, buildings or land on their farm to breed the livestock themselves.

The farmer owns the animals, but the Contract Breeder has responsibility for health, welfare, and the performance of the livestock. The Contract Breeder will be paid to make sure that the animals are in good health.

Depending on the number of animals, a Contract Breeder may also have some responsibility for staff, such as Stockpersons and Farm Workers. On some smaller scale units, a Contract Breeder may carry out both the management and everyday tasks.

A Contract Breeder’s tasks would include:

• Working with a Feed Advisor and creating a diet suited to the age and growth rate required by the livestock
• Working with their Vet to resolve any health or disease problems, including treatments where appropriate
• Weighing the animals to monitor performance and calculating growth rates
• Responsibility for meeting Defra requirements, for example ensuring the animals are correctly identified and that the correct veterinary and medicines treatment records are up-to-date.

Working Conditions 

A Contract Breeder generally works as least 39 hours per week and many will be self-employed. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work can be a part of the job.

Some breeding herds are kept indoors all year, whereas other farms with drier land and soil keep their breeding herds outdoors in fields.

Next steps

Contract Breeders may move into other work such as technical sales, consultancy and teaching, or work as an Agricultural Adviser. It may also be possible to work with private companies, consultancies and co-operatives that offer farm management services.

All agricultural workers need to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in their sector. For those wishing to progress into farm management, a degree course in subjects such as agriculture and animal or farm management may also be an option.

There may also be the chance to work abroad.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Soil Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

A catcher in the poultry industry catches birds so they can be moved, transported or get treatment.

This may happen several times between different production stages and farms. Birds will be in groups and free to move around before loading.

Catchers must be able to move calmly and quickly to catch the birds using careful and specific handling techniques to minimise stress and ensure the animals are not harmed. Once caught, the birds are placed in special containers before transportation or treatment with vaccine.

A catcher could work in various types of farms and systems, dealing with breeding poultry birds, with layers producing eggs for the food chain or with birds bred for meat.

Working Conditions 

Catchers will generally work at least 39 hours a week, but this may be in the form of shifts. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work are all common. There are also opportunities for part-time and casual work.

Most Catchers work inside where birds are grouped and ready to be moved.

Next steps

Some large poultry employers employ their own catchers but most use professional independent catching teams. Due to the size and structure of the Poultry Industry there are many opportunities to progress and move between farms and companies.

Industry links

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

An Assistant Farm Manager reports to the Farm Manager and is responsible for helping manage the business, with responsibility for health, welfare, and performance.

The Assistant Farm Manager works with the Unit Manager in: 

• Planning and setting production targets, and budgets
• Monitoring the quality of their produce and performance of the sections
• Purchasing materials needed for the farm, like feed and seed
• Record keeping
• Ensuring the farm operates within legal guidelines
• Ensuring farm waste is managed correctly
• On smaller farms, may be involved with general tasks such as feeding livestock, driving tractors and operating and repairing machinery.

Working Conditions

Assistant Farm Managers generally work as least 39 hours per week but it may be necessary to work paid overtime during busy periods. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work can be necessary especially at busy times of the year.

Assistant Farm Managers may be required to cover for their Farm Manager, Unit Manager if necessary, or other staff on the farm.

The working conditions will depend on the farm. Some farms have a mixture of both livestock and crops depending on their soil conditions, farm location and local markets.

Next steps

With the right qualifications and further experience in other farm businesses and enterprises, an Assistant Farm Manager could gain promotion to a Farm Manager, with ultimate responsibility for the Farm.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Soil Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

The main role of the artificial insemination technician is to inseminate livestock, cows, sheep or pigs. The technician may need to monitor the heat cycle of livestock to carry out the insemination at the correct time.

They are responsible for handling and thawing straws of frozen semen that have been kept in liquid nitrogen and need to carry out the insemination process quickly and accurately whilst maintaining the welfare of the animal.

Depending on the place of work the technician may also have other duties such as maintaining breeding animals, keeping records and giving advice to farmers on the best male animals to use. Some technicians may work closely with their veterinarian on specific breeding programmes or with farmers supporting them with insemination services.

Working Conditions

Most artificial insemination technicians will be working for large companies which specialise in providing breeding services. The work may involve a lot of driving around the country and working outdoors or in barns or sheds.

Most technicians work in the field but some may also be involved in scientific research.

Next steps

Depending on the experience you may look to move into teaching and training of those entering the industry. There may also be opportunities to progress into research.

Industry links

British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

My world of work

National Farmers Union Scotland

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service

Scottish Crofting Federation

Scottish Machinery Rings

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Soil Association

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs