Farm worker

Are you looking for a job where you'll work outdoors, handling equipment and animals? If so, a career as a farm worker may be perfect for you.

You'll do a combination of practical and manual work on a farm. In some roles, you'll look after animals like cows, chickens and pigs. Jobs on other farms may involve growing or harvesting crops.

You could work on one of three main types of farm:

• livestock – dealing with animals

• arable – growing crops

• mixed – working with both animals and crops

Whatever type of farm you work on, you'll operate machinery and do general repairs. Your work will be supervised by the owner, farm manager, supervisor or landowner. You might also manage casual staff and agricultural contractors.

Your duties will vary depending on the type of farm and the time of year.

Your tasks might include:

• feeding animals and mucking out their environment on a livestock farm

• ploughing fields and sowing seeds on an arable farm

• using milking machines with dairy cows on a livestock farm

• spreading fertiliser, harvesting crops and spraying them with pesticides or weedkillers on an arable farm

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

• doing manual tasks like repairing farm buildings, putting up and mending fences and working with ditches

Green job 

In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.

• Lantra Scotland – discover training that'll help you build skills relevant to the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector

• The Royal Highland Show – explore this event that showcases the best of food, farming and rural life