More qualifications for farm managers required...
FARM managers will require a greater number of qualifications to tackle ever more sophisticated business if a recent survey is anything to go by.
The latest Institute of Farm Management (IAgrM) survey, found that the average annual salary of UK farm managers in 2024 is £59,695, made up of £54,753 of gross salary plus £4941 of profit shares and bonuses. Non-cash benefits such as accommodation, house bills and use of farm vehicle averaged an additional £11,493
At the same time there is a worrying lack of diversity in salaried farm managers with a very small number of female farm managers.
The report was complied by Graham Redman, partner at the Anderson Centre; Richard Crane manager of the Central and Southeast region of the Farm Business survey for Promar International and Victoria Bywater, director of IAgrM.
“Farm businesses continue to become more complex, demanding high levels of management competence. Salaries rise as farm size increases by area, complexity, and the number of workers,” said Graham Redman.
“The hectarage being looked after is increasing, with 14% now managing more than 3000ha and less than a third are managing under 800ha.”
Level of business sophistication is reflected in the standard of qualifications held by farm managers, with more now degree educated. In 2024, 67% of managers have a degree, up from 34% in 2014. All other managers in the 2024 survey have a diploma. As recently as 1969, 11% of farm managers had no formal qualification.
“This may in part reflect the changing structure of agricultural education with many colleges that previously awarded diplomas now being universities conveying degrees. This may explain why older farm managers are more likely to have the diplomas.
“Experience is still worth more than qualifications to the employer, with wages rising strongly with experience, at least up to 15-years’ experience. However, the survey shows that achieving on-going qualifications is valued, with 77% of managers taking posteducation management and leadership training.
“It is also interesting to note that IAgrM members earn almost £9000 more than non-members. It is probable that membership indicates a desire to be better engaged and a willingness to network to build a wider experience.”
Assessing the demographics revealed by the survey, 23% of managers have less than five years’ experience and 47% have less than 10.
“If a farm manager’s career could span say 40 years, you would expect 12.5% of managers to have less than five years’ experience and a quarter to have less than 10 years.
“This suggests that either the role is of growing interest to younger people and their demand on farms is increasing, or that managers don’t last their whole careers in this role. It is perhaps for this reason, that in an attempt to retain good managers, farm manager remuneration jumps after 10 years’ experience with the highest earning managers receiving a package worth in excess of £100,000pa.
“Despite the significant number of women receiving an agricultural education, still only 5% of farm managers are female. This percentage should be higher as women are equally capable of managing businesses and people.” five females, £176.40; eight rams, £573.56
A joint top price of 900gns was achieved at the Spring Stars show and sale of Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn sheep at Carlisle.
First to make that money was the pre-sale champion, a shearling ram from James Royan, The Granary, Putton Mill, Duns. Bennachie
Fettercairn is a son of Ballytaggart Dizzie Rascal, and was knocked down to SRUC Barony Campus, Dumfries.
The reserve champion, Stobilee Gladiator, a ram lamb from Lanarkshire breeder, Alistair Morton, Stobilee, Cleghorn, made the same money. He is sired by Lisnafillan Da Vinci, which has previously sired progeny to £4410 and sold to Messrs Wild, Matlock, Derbyshire.
The Stobilee flock also took 600gns from SRUC Barony for the September-born ram lamb, Stobilee Glasgow. Sired by the UK record priced ram lamb, £6930 Downkillybegs Dazzler he is out of Stobilee Deverra.
A pair of twin ram lambs – Stobilee Glenmorangie and Stobilee Glenfiddich – also made 600gns each when selling to Messrs Thomlinson, and Joe Baker, of Lanamuir flock, both Berwickshire respectively. Sired by the 2023 Suffolk show champion, Downkillybegs Eskimo, they are bred from homebred dams.
A small entry of females reached a top of 350gns for a ewe with twin lambs, from James Royan’s Bennachie flock. This outfit sold to Messrs Shephard and Son Ltd, Millom, Cumbria.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.