Considering a successful career in agriculture? You’re going to need these skills
- Written by Emily Taylor
They say that farmers don’t just work until the sun goes down, they work until the job is done. And to get those jobs done, you’re going to need a whole range of skills, attributes and strong qualities to see you through each season and harvest.
There are numerous branches of the agricultural industry that may attract certain types of workers or those with particular skill sets. However to succeed in the agricultural industry you’re going to need to pull all those skills together to create a strong foundation for your farming ambitions to grow from.
Here we’ll explore what skills you’re going to need to have a successful career in the agricultural industry.
Financial skills
Farming isn't just about animals or crops, it's a business. And that means a good level of financial management skills are required, so despite your high outgoings, you can still turn a profit. Saving money yet utilising high-quality necessities such as livestock shelters and farm buildings, fuel, the costs of labourers, harvesting, machinery, equipment and so on is essential to keep your farm working and your finances in the black.
If you don’t possess a financial or business mind, you’ll need to brush up on your skills before you enter this demanding industry.
Good communication skills
Picture a farm and it’s easy to become blindsided by images of a farmer and his family, happily farming the land and selling their crops at the local market. However, there’s a lot more to the process than that. Good communication skills are essential for anyone who wants to be successful in agriculture.
You’ll be liaising daily with workers, suppliers, buyers and other clients throughout every stage of the process. You'll need to develop strong business relationships, listen to feedback and deliver on promises. You may also be required to negotiate prices or the terms of a business deal. If there's an issue with something you may also need to work on your conflict resolution skills. If one area of your communication skills is weaker than another, it could have serious consequences throughout your farming chain.
Good with technology
Believe it or not, farming has come along way in the last ten years alone. With technology playing a vital role in the planning, preparation, production, packing and delivering of products at every stage than ever before.
From stock management to inventories, employee information, finances and costs, spraying, harvesting even using satellite data to determine the crop and soil conditions over millions of acres. Being confident with technology and being willing to use it in your everyday farming practices means you'll evolve with the industry and be more efficient and successful.
And finally, you need to be versatile
Being able to cope with adverse weather conditions, a sudden change from demanding suppliers, a bad harvest, changes in legislation, broken equipment, or even political issues and export problems are just some of the daily tasks that agricultural experts face. As a farmer, you’re expected to be able to think on your feet and be completely versatile, handling each issue expertly as it arises.
Still think you’ve got what it takes?
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