Agricultural Technician
Joseph is an Agricultural and Field Technician at Rothamsted Research in Okehampton, Devon
I mainly look after the day-to-day running of the farm and support research projects, looking at the sustainability of farming systems. My tasks range from animal welfare to machinery work and scientific tasks. For the scientific side, I take a lot of samples and record data, which is used in the research we carry out. I apply fertilisers to field experiments and record all of the data, collect forage samples of grass (which the cattle feed on) and even do wheat samples to check moisture levels. I also look after a project called Techno Graze, which studies the environmental effects of cell grazing for livestock, compared to continuous grazing, and looks at how this affects soil health, forage levels and livestock performance.
Work hard in school but look further than what’s offered to you. There are so many courses and opportunities beyond A-levels and mainstream routes. Do your research and talk to people – having the confidence to ask is key. I found some great work experience opportunities just by asking. There are so many interesting technician jobs out there in important industries, so don’t be afraid to explore and ask questions!
The variety. I love that I don't really know what I'll be doing week to week. There's also great flexibility - if I fancy doing something more science-y, my managers will push me towards working with the scientists. If I want a week concentrating on the farm work, I can go out on the tractor and do more mainstream agricultural work. It's brilliant!
We've got a brilliant group of very knowledgeable individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. They're always happy to help and teach me things. What makes it different from a regular farm is that we've got a bit more time to do things precisely. It's great working with experts like Phil, who's got a PhD in crop science, and Bruce, who's worked his way up from the bottom and done every job here.
Independence is a big one - we're often given our own responsibilities for the week. Being dynamic is crucial, especially when working with animals and agriculture, as things don't always go to plan. You need to be concise, detailed, and organised, especially with all the data recording we do. Being mechanically minded helps too, as we do a lot of our own machinery maintenance. And of course, you need a good knowledge of animal welfare and to know the symptoms of the current diseases to look out for.
I've really taken to the fertiliser spreader. It's one of the precision jobs I've taken on, and I've even worked with John Deere to improve how we integrate the technology with our own databases. I also enjoy mowing - it's satisfying to see the work you've done at the end of the day.
I still enjoy tinkering with cars with my mates. The Young Farmers Club has become a big part of my life too - there's a great sense of community and they have loads of events and training opportunities. In winter, I enjoy going out with my dog, beating on local shoots. And of course, there's always time for a pint in the pub with friends!
For my GCSEs, I chose Business Studies, Food and Nutrition, and Geography as my options. At school, I did quite well academically and after my GCSEs I felt a lot of pressure to go down the A-level route, but I knew it wasn’t right for me. Back then, I was more into sports like football and rugby. My interests have definitely changed since school - this job has become a bit of a lifestyle really, it’s so much more than just work.
Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
