Agricultural Consultant

Salary
Graduate: £15,000 - £20,000
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £25,000 - £50,000

Main Employers

• Government bodies
• Agricultural consultancies
• Farming co-operatives
• Commercial companies
• Environmental and conservation bodies
• Self-employment

Job Profile
An agricultural consultant researches and solves the problems of farmers, growers, landowners, conservation organisations, public bodies and other agricultural businesses. This kind off advisory work is split into two distinct but interrelated streams. An agricultural consultant may be a business consultant, involving estate and financial management for agricultural businesses and farms, or they may be a technical consultant, providing specialist advice on crops, nutrition, livestock, technical applications and conservation.

Role and Responsibilities
Jobs will vary according to each employer; however you could expect to be involved in:

• Visiting clients to identify and evaluate their business and technical requirements
• Collecting and analysing data, crop yield and financial reports
• Preparing or modifying business or operating plans
• Organising presentations, demonstrations, training and farm walks
• Writing advisory leaflets, technical notes and articles
• Marketing and promotions
• Administrative duties, managing budgets and preparing reports

Qualifications
Relevant further education subjects include: Agricultural Engineering; Agriculture; Crop & Plant Science; Environmental Science; Horticulture; Soil Science

Most positions require a good degree, although entry is sometimes possible with an HND and relevant experience. An MSc or PhD are advantageous to enter the technical stream but will not be as useful on the business side. It is possible to enter into the business side of consultancy with a business degree and experience of the agricultural industry.

Career Development
Some larger agricultural consultancies offer graduate recruitment schemes, focusing on farm management and agricultural business. Entry is competitive and difficulties apply equally to mature and younger applicants.

Within commercial agricultural consultancies, career development depends on performance, revenue and size of the organisation. For those in the public sector, development is linked to performance and increased responsibility. Within smaller consultancies, promotion to senior roles may be limited and relocation or specialisation required.

Past agricultural research has resulted in the development of higher yielding crops with better resistance to pests and plant pathogens, and chemically based fertilizers and pesticides. Research is still necessary, particularly as insects and diseases adapt to pesticides and as soil fertility and water quality continue to need improvement. Emerging biotechnologies will play an increasingly larger role in creating more global food supplies, resulting in more job opportunities.

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