A Day in the Life of a Farm Manager
This video shows Tony, the Farm Manager of Hardingham Farms in Norfolk, on a typical day. He begins his day by checking the weather for a long forecast so he knows what work can be done over the following days. Tony goes to see a field that could potentially be drilled. He then heads to the main grain store to test the harvested beans on the moisture meter to check they are dried to 14% so they can be sent to Egypt. Tony discusses the main responsibilities of being a farm manager: growing produce, harvesting, monitoring moisture, monitoring grain temperature and being able to drive machinery. He enjoys working in the farming industry because he can go walking and see wildlife whilst achieving something every day. In the afternoon he walks the fields in a W shape to check for slug damage to see if the field can be used in the near future. Tony talks about modern farming whereby these days there is modern machinery, GPS guidance and a record of everything. He states that as a manager he must be able to drill, spray, drive the combine harvester and be a spare man for any jobs that need doing. At the end of the day tony goes back to the office to do some paperwork. He offers tips for people interested in getting the industry suggesting they complete a farming college course and get as much experience on a farm as possible. If you want to get into the farming sector why not take up a course in mixed farming or complete an nvq in agriculture. East Durham College offer a wide range of courses; visit the site to find out more. www.eastdurham.ac.uk
