Definition: Farmer Job Description

What are the farmer’s missions? What training to follow to exercise this profession? What are his outlets and his salary? The answers are provided to you by this farmer job sheet.

Farmer profession

Passionate about nature, the farmer is a true entrepreneur, whether he manages an animal farm, cultivates cereals or produces vegetables or fruits…

Discover this profession in detail: mission, salary, possible training, retraining.

What is a farmer?

Formerly considered a peasant or a farmer, today the farmer is also a full-fledged entrepreneur.

Whether owner of the land (farmer or head of farm), tenant of a farm or simple employee (farm worker), the farmer works the land according to an organic or intensive farming system and/or manages animal production (meat, milk, eggs, etc.).

It can also manage plots of land to produce crops: cereals, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits and vines.

The missions of a farmer

He must prepare the soil, sow, plant but also spread the fertilizers.

In addition to driving agricultural machinery, the farmer regularly puts his hand in the work to carry out their repairs.

If he raises animals, the farmer takes care of their reproduction and feeding, oversees their development, sells them or markets their productions.

In order to increase their income, more and more farmers are diversifying their activities, particularly in green or rural tourism: rooms or tables d’hôte, reception at the farm, sale of organic products, educational visits…

Accounting and administrative management are also part of his daily life as a business leader.

Qualifications required to become a farmer

To exercise this profession, the love of nature and animals is essential but is not enough for all that.

This profession is ideal for all candidates wishing to work outdoors, but this involves dealing with climatic hazards (drought, wind, snow, cold and flood).

In addition, there are rather difficult operating conditions: drop in production profitability, increase in costs, constant fall in agricultural prices, heavy loan to be repaid…

A true entrepreneur, he must have solid knowledge in management, accounting, administration and commerce…. to ensure the profitability of its operation.

With great versatility, a farmer does not count his hours on weekends and holidays included.

Training to become a farmer

Initial training

CAP level

• CAP Agricole (CAPA) agricultural trades that are prepared in two years after the third class full time or in apprenticeship.
• CAP agricultural agriculture in hot regions which is prepared in two years after the third class full time or in apprenticeship.

Baccalaureate standard

To set up on his own and obtain the aid necessary for setting up, it is necessary to prove a professional agricultural capacity which requires at least to have the baccalaureate level.

• Professional Graduate Conduct and Management of the Agricultural Business (CGEA): accessible in three years after the third class or in 2 years after a CAP in the sector (under certain conditions)
• Professional Graduate Horticultural Productions:: accessible in three years after the third class or in 2 years after a CAP in the sector (under certain conditions)
• BP Agricultural business manager: accessible in 2 years after a CAPA or after a BEP or a second class

Licence level

• BTSA Horticultural production
• BTSA Analysis, management and strategy of the agricultural company
• BTSA Productions animales
• BTSA Agronomy: plant productions

These diplomas, available in 2 years after a baccalaureate level diploma or equivalent in the agricultural field, allow you to exercise production functions, but also advice, research, or even commercial functions.

Doctorate level

• Agricultural engineer or agronomist diploma

Continuing education

For those who would like to retrain and become a farmer, the various diplomas in the agricultural sector are accessible within the framework of continuing training, in particular within a vocational training and agricultural promotion center (CFPPA).

Other specialization certifications exist such as the CS Conduct of production in organic farming and marketing.

Salary of a farmer

Most of the time self-employed, his remuneration varies according to the type and size of the operation.

As a result of falling product prices and increasing costs, margins are tightening and revenues are falling on many farms.

Trends in the farming profession

With the liberalization of the markets, small farms tend to disappear in favor of larger and larger farms.

Because we can live without agriculture, the State offers many settlement assistance systems for future young farmers.