Key questions about the agricultural sector

Emma-Louise Agriculture: what is it and is it just another word for farming?

Frankie Farming is certainly an important part of the agricultural sector, but by no means the only part. Agriculture is concerned with cultivating soil, growing, and harvesting all types of crops.

Emma-Louise Like vegetables, fruit, and cereals, such as wheat or barley,

Frankie raising and caring for livestock –

Emma-Louise that's animals such as cows, sheep, horses, or chickens –

Frankie and the early preparation of plants and animal products for distribution. And it also covers research and development too, such as selective breeding to increase productivity.

Emma-Louise Agriculture is a vital source of food production and in the UK, as of 2020, 71% of land was used for agricultural activities. So, it very much shapes the landscape of the whole country. So, let's get stuck in.

Frankie There are opportunities across the UK, with over 528,000 people employed in the sector, with a projected rise to almost 541,000 by 2025.

Emma-Louise The first job roles you may associate with the agricultural sector are farmers. But what do farmers earn and how many of those employed in the agricultural sector are actually farmers?

Frankie There are a little over 228,000 farmers currently employed and their median pay is just under £22,000 per year. The number of jobs is expected to rise by 6% by 2025.

Emma-Louise But there are other jobs on farms too. For example, agricultural machinery drivers who drive the machines that till the soil, plant seeds, fertilise plants and harvest crops.

Frankie They earn a median salary of just under £24,000, but the number of jobs is expected to be roughly the same by 2025.

Emma-Louise Remember how much of the land is used for agricultural purposes? Well, another role in the sector is that of conservation specialists, such as countryside officers who help manage, protect, and improve the rural environment.

Frankie They have a wide range of responsibilities, from advising landowners on land management and carrying out research and data analysis to supporting local countryside projects.

Emma-Louise They have a median pay of around £32,000 and these jobs are projected to grow by 3% by 2025.

Frankie There are also other roles specialised in ensuring the agricultural techniques and practices are suitable, effective and good value for money, such as soil scientists, botanists, accountants, and agronomists.

Emma-Louise What's an agronomist?

Frankie They advise farmers on soil management and crop production.

Emma-Louise There are also many other jobs that help ensure farms run well and agricultural produce is ready for distribution, such as packers, bottlers and fillers.

Frankie Packers, bottlers and fillers have a median salary of around £19,500 and has a projected increase of 3% in the number of job roles available by 2025. So, let's take a look at some of the career paths you can take for specific roles in the agricultural sector. There are many different paths you could take to becoming a farmer or farm manager.

Emma-Louise At university you could take a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma, or degree in subjects such as Agriculture, Land Management, Farm Business Management, or Crop and Livestock Production.

Frankie For entry onto these courses, you'll usually need one or two A-levels or equivalent for a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma, or two to three A-levels or equivalent for a degree. Or you could start your career in farming by doing a course at an agricultural college. You'll usually need one or two A-levels or equivalent for a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma and they run on many courses in subjects such as Agriculture or Land-based Activities.

Emma-Louise You'll usually need two or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades 9 to 3 for a level 2 course, or four or five GCSE or equivalent for a level 3 course.

Frankie Alternatively, you could apply for an apprenticeship or even start working directly on a farm in a junior role and work your way up while you learn on the job.

Emma-Louise Maybe you're more interested in driving tractors or combine harvesters and want to start a career as an agricultural machinery worker. You could do a college course, such as a Level 2 Award in Tractor Driving and Related Occupations, or a Level 2 Award in Safe Working in Agriculture and Production Horticulture. You'll usually need two or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 or equivalent for a level 2 course.

Frankie But there are also apprenticeships you can apply for, or you can apply directly for a job. Some experience in farming could be useful and a basic knowledge of mechanics would also help your application.

Emma-Louise So, what about an agronomist? That's the role that advises farmers on soil management and crop production.

Frankie You could do a university degree in a related subject such as in Agriculture, Biology, Ecology, Crop and Plant Science, or Soil Science. You'll usually need at least one A-level or equivalent for a foundation course or two to three A-levels or equivalent for a degree. Or you could do a college course, such as a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture. You'll usually need four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 or equivalent for level 3 course.

Emma-Louise But there are also apprenticeships, graduate training schemes, and training courses run by professional organisations that can set you on the path, such as the BASIS Foundation Award in Agronomy.

Frankie Let's find out more from someone with experience in the sector. Jamie is an agronomist who works all over the UK. "I would say my favourite part of my role is being out on the land all day surrounded by nature and the great British countryside. Walking crops from the moment they start their life coming through the ground all the way through the autumn, winter, spring and then harvest in the summer, gives me great satisfaction."

Emma-Louise Minette is president of the National Farmers’ Union. "It's an incredibly exciting time to work in British agriculture. Farming is experiencing huge change. We are changing how we farm to help tackle climate change and we're always adapting to make sure we're producing food that people want to buy. I'd encourage anyone to consider a career in food and farming."

Emma-Louise Agriculture is integral to our day-to-day lives. We all need nutrition and how we produce our food affects many different aspects of our society, such as our health, the environment, and the economy.

Frankie So, the next time you pick up some fruit, veg, or other food product at your local shop, think of all the work that goes into getting it into your hand.

Emma-Louise And, if you find yourself wanting to be a part of that process, maybe a career in agriculture could be the right path for you.