Last year, the NFU identified that many farmers are struggling to recruit and retain workers in several roles vital to UK agricultural production – including  field harvest operators. Smallholder and Editor of  Ferguson Heritage Magazine, Jane Brooks, explores the subject further…

In todays’ farming world, tractor driving and the operation of agricultural machinery is a highly skilled occupation and as we head towards autumn there may be young people exploring agricultural careers.

For experienced tractor drivers, this is also the time of year when many harvest jobs are advertised. Many colleges are offering Level 2 awards in tractor driving and related occupations. For anyone using a tractor, this qualification can help prove their ability to work in agriculture, horticulture or other industries.

However, it does not replace any legal requirement for a driving license. But what does it take to work as a tractor driver, there’s the ability to work alone and pay attention to detail, have high levels of concentration and certain physical skills to enable the safe operation of machinery.

Although this is an industry that is more than willing to support disabilities, not all tractor drivers need to be completely able bodied, they just have to have the level of ability needed to operate machinery safely. It’s useful to have some knowledge of food production methods, the ability to remain calm and work well in stressful situations. In modern machinery the ability to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device is also essential.

Tractor drivers can carry out many and varied tasks such as equipment and machinery checks, crop spraying (with the right certificates), harvesting, grain carting. and hedge cutting.

Modern farm tractors are highly sophisticated, computer-based and extremely valuable machines, so operators need to provide a safe pair of hands.

This article extract was taken from the August 2024 edition of The Country Smallholder. To read the article in full, you can buy the issue here.

To receive regular copies of The Country Smallholder magazine featuring more articles like this, subscribe here.

For FREE updates from the world of smallholding, sign up for The Country Smallholder newsletter here.