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Useful experience for farmers/farm managers includes:

• any type of farm or farm management work
• animal-handling work
• driving tractors and using machinery
• engineering work such as welding
• shearing
• work as a stock and station agent – buying or selling sheep, cattle or deer
• managing others.

Farmers/farm managers may do some or all of the following:

• buy and sell stock, and manage stock-breeding programmes
• provide food, care and shelter for animals
• herd and shift stock
• handle and train farm dogs
• maintain and repair farm equipment such as vehicles and machinery
• hire and supervise workers such as shepherds and shearing gangs
• buy feed, machinery and other farming materials
• maintain and clean farm buildings, yards and fences
• manage financial and farming records and accounts.

Shortage of farmers/farm managers

Demand for farmers/farm managers is increasing due to:

• a number of people in the role reaching retirement
• growing use of farming technology, and the need for farmers who know how to use it
• overseas customers buying more meat and wool.

However, the number of farmers/farm managers coming through is insufficient to meet demand. As a result, the following jobs appear on Immigration New Zealand's regional skill shortage list: 

• Beef cattle farmer/farm manager.
• Dairy cattle farmer/farm manager/assistant farm manager.
• Pig farmer/farm manager or assistant farm manager.

This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled farmers/farm managers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Farmers commonly self-employed

Farmers are usually self-employed, and lease or own their own farms.

Farm managers may work for:

• farm owners
• private companies that own farms
• iwi
• the Government's farm development agency, Pāmu Farms of New Zealand. 

Federated Farmers

0800 327646 - events@fedfarm.org.nz - https://fedfarm.org.nz/

Primary ITO

0800 208020 - info@primaryito.ac.nz - www.primaryito.ac.nz

Farm managers may progress to a business/operations management role where they:

• are responsible for meeting overall business goals
• manage multiple farms.

They may also progress to own a farm. Becoming a farmer depends on gaining a high level of practical and managerial skills, and raising enough money to buy or lease property.

Farmers/farm managers usually specialise in a role such as:

Beef Cattle Farmer

Beef cattle farmers breed, raise and care for beef cattle to produce meat and breeding stock.

Dairy Cattle Farmer

Dairy farmers feed, care for and milk herds of cows on farms.

Deer Farmer

Deer farmers breed, raise and care for deer to produce meat, velvet, hides and breeding stock.

Goat Farmer

Goat farmers breed, raise and care for goats to produce wool, milk, meat and breeding stock.

Pig Farmer

Pig farmers raise and care for pigs to produce meat and breeding stock.

Poultry Farmer

Poultry farmers raise and care for chickens or other poultry to produce meat, and/or keep hens to produce table eggs (for eating) or fertile eggs (for hatching).

Sheep Farmer

Sheep farmers breed, raise and care for sheep to produce wool, meat and breeding stock.

Farmers/farm managers need to be:

• confident and caring with animals
• hard-working and responsible
• independent
• adaptable
• practical and good at solving problems
• good communicators and managers
• well organised, with good planning skills.