What Does A Farm Labourer Do

Do you have an interest in working with your hands, getting stuck in and spending time outdoors? If you do then working as a farm labourer might be a good career choice for you. However, when we think of a farm labourer, we’ll all have a different idea of what these people do. 

It’s true that working as a farm labourer is a very versatile job. If you’re not someone that likes sticking to the same tasks every day then this might be a career that suits you. You’ll always be on the go and will do a variety of different jobs. But exactly what does a farm labourer do?

Farm labourers might be doing anything from maintaining farm buildings and equipment through to animal care and harvesting crops. 

What you do will largely depend on the type of farm you work on. But this guide will give you a general idea of the things that are expected of a farm labourer. 

What Makes A Good Farm Labourer?

Before we look at what a farm labourer does, it’s important to know whether this is the right type of work for you. You will need to obtain certain skills and qualifications to become a farm labourer and we have a separate guide on that here. 

However, you’ll also need to think about how your current skill set compares with this type of work. For example, you’ll spend time working with others as part of a team but you’ll also be expected to work independently. This means being able to cope in both types of situations and being able to make joint and independent decisions. 

Farm labourers also need to have excellent physical strength. Your days will be spent doing a lot of manual jobs so you’ll need good strength, coordination and balance as well as being adept at working with your hands. 

Working on a farm can be stressful at times so you will need to be able to manage yourself in these situations. Being able to remain calm and make rational decisions is essential, even when you are under pressure. Since things can change in an instant, you’ll also need to be able to adapt to this. 

What Do Farm Labourers Do?

One of the great things about being a farm labourer is the diversity of the job. No two days will be the same so there’s always something exciting to look forward to when you head to work. 

The things you do will differ depending on the type of farm you work on. If you’re working on a farm with livestock then you may be responsible for things like feeding and general care of the animals. You may also have to do things like treating the animals for diseases which is why a certificate in Farm Animal Care Skills can come in handy. 

For those working on a dairy farm, you may be expected to milk the cows and perform repairs and maintenance on the machinery for this. 

Where crops are concerned, farm labourers will be expected to sow seeds, treat crops, plough  fields and harvest.

Another key job of a farm labourer is general maintenance. This might mean repairing and maintaining farm buildings as well as general cleaning and tidying jobs. This might also include maintenance of trees, shrubs, hedges and other natural structures. 

You may also be asked to maintain and fix tools and machinery such as combine harvesters, tractors and ploughs, among other things.

What Is The Working Environment Of A Farm Labourer?

It goes without saying that your primary working environment as a farm labourer will be on some type of farm. It’s important to keep in mind that this can be quite messy work as you’ll be exposed to dust, dirt, animals and other things. 

Moreover, since a farm never stops, you’ll have to be prepared to be outdoors in all types of weather. This is why it is essential to kit yourself out with the right gear to protect yourself from the elements. 

Is A Farm Labourer A Good Job?

A lot of people assume that being a farm labourer is a thankless job. However, this is not the case.  If you love working outdoors and want something varied then it’s an excellent option.

That said, you have to consider that there isn’t scope to earn a huge amount of money doing this job. So, for many people, it’s merely a stepping stone to bigger and better things. The average salary of a farm labourer in the UK is anywhere between £18,000 and £25,000 a year. This is significantly lower than the national average so certainly something to consider. 

However, if you take college courses and gain a good level of experience then your job as a farm labourer could lead to you a more senior role. There is the opportunity to become a supervisor, which would see your salary rise. Moreover, a lot of people use this experience to move into contracting for servicing machinery within the farming industry.

Conclusion

When you think of a farm labourer, you think of a general hand that is responsible for a variety of different tasks. While this is partly true, there is a lot of skill involved with the job as you’ll need to be able to work efficiently in a lot of different situations. 

In a single day you could do several different jobs including feeding and taking care of animals, repairing machinery, general maintenance and harvesting crops. What’s great is that you can use this job to work your way up to a higher position. Or, if you have a passion for working outdoors then you may get job satisfaction for life from being a farm labourer.