We need to talk about the devastating shortfall of young people in agriculture

There is an optics problem across the whole agriculture industry; turning away young talent before they even know what is available. Many young people set their sights on a career path from a young age, by the time they hear about farming career opportunities, they have already made up their minds. There are groups in the UK going into schools to talk about agriculture, and the job prospects, which is growing awareness. The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs is an example of reaching people as young as 10. While this is a great step to creating a good community of young people interested in farming, these students need to know more about what educational courses are available. We partnered with Hartpury College to support their students with managing farm operations, as they offer a fantastic range of courses.  

How can Hartpury College be the answer to your staffing shortages? 

Before students have finished their GCSE exams, ideally well before, you want them to know the wide range of courses available. Hartpury are a college and university, so they can offer courses from Level 2 apprenticeships, all the way to a master’s degree. The earlier we can reach eager students, the larger the talent pool becomes. Many children have no idea there are courses available.  

What agricultural courses are available? 

Agriculture apprenticeship 

The apprenticeship is split over two levels, to give foundational information at GCSE equivalent level, and level three as an A level equivalent. The course is based one day a week at the college during term time. The apprenticeship is not a one size fits all, and is tailored to the student and the farm they are located on. The qualification includes Level 1 Mathematics and English, Level 3 emergency aid at work, and the safe use of pesticides. The candidate will have the opportunity to specialise in crop production or livestock production, where they will be responsible for supporting the daily operations of the farm enterprise. Duties will include identifying and resolving any issues related to the health of animals and plants. They will assist with critical operational and administrative tasks, such as record-keeping. Farmers can take advantage of this developing talent pool and mould them at a crucially early stage. 

National Diploma 

Starting at level 2, national diplomas are a more vocational way for students to study. Giving real skills to future farmers, growers, and farm machinery operators. There are many options for students to choose from and they can be continued through to level 3. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate studies 

As Hartpury offers both college and university level studies, students can continue to develop in a familiar setting. This includes a Master’s degree course in Applied Agricultural Sciences. We need to focus messaging on the students. How they will play an integral part in smart farming platforms, where cutting-edge digital technology and knowledge merge to drive innovation. Working with the latest smart tech, robotics, and precision tools that will propel them to the forefront of agricultural data and science. This is an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the rapidly evolving field of Agri-Tech and be a part of something that will shape the future of agriculture.  

What can you do right now to help? 

Most school aged children do not grow up in the farming environment, and the ones that do, don’t always go into the family business. As a farmer, you should look to becoming more involved in your local area. Arrange to visit schools where you can show the kids how exciting agriculture really is. It isn’t just about manual labour, there are hundreds of careers that either supplement, or work directly with farms at all levels.