Farm managers oversee the running of a farm as an efficient and profitable business. The work involved would depend partly on the type of farm, which could be:

Livestock - raising animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry

Arable - growing crops such as cereals (wheat, barley and oats), potatoes, sugar beet, vegetables and oil seed rape

Mixed - combining livestock and arable farming.

Managers might run a whole estate or just part of it, such as a pig unit or arable unit. They plan the running of the farm and how the budget is spent, set targets for how much the farm is to produce over the next year, employ staff, organise their work and manage them. They also plan livestock breeding, decide when to plant crops, buy materials such as fertilisers and animal feed, and sell their produce at the appropriate time.

Most farm managers undertake at least some of the day-to-day practical work on the farm, which can include feeding animals as well as organising breeding and milking. They may also drive tractors and other machinery for ploughing, spreading fertiliser and harvesting crops.

Entry level

Although there are no set entry requirements, you are likely to need a recognised qualification in agriculture. This could be, for example, a n NVQ/SVQ in Agricultural Crop Production or Livestock Production Level 3, Agriculture (Livestock Management) Level 4, or Agriculture and Commercial Horticulture (Crop Management) Level 4. Alternatively, you might study full-time for a higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject relating to agriculture or land management.

You would need at least one A level or two H grades, often in science subjects, for the higher national diploma, and similar qualifications for a foundation degree in agricultural subjects. For an honours degree, you would need at least two A levels/three H grades. Chemistry and biology are often required or preferred subjects.

For postgraduate courses, you would need a relevant first degree or higher national diploma.

In all cases, you must have previous experience of farm work.

Making the grade

You could study part-time for agricultural NVQ/SVQ qualifications at the same time as working on a farm. You are unlikely to go straight into work as a farm manager because you would need several years' experience in farming. All farm managers need to keep up to date with the latest developments in agriculture. You could attend short courses at colleges of agriculture, or study by distance learning.

There are now a number of full-time and part-time courses offered throughout the UK that specialise in organic farming. These range from a City & Guilds national certificate, to degrees and postgraduate level courses.