Agriculture Advisor

Position Overview

Advisors and Consultants in the agricultural industry need to have a natural appreciation and interest in the environment, farming, and ecology to be successful. Agricultural Advisors help resolve issues for a variety of clients such as farmers, feed companies, land owners, agricultural manufacturers and businesses, and many others. Farm advisors gather, review, report and make recommendations based on their findings to help increase yields, improve efficiency and reduce losses. Advisors can deal with issues such as animal nutrition, pest control, disease control, harvesting practices, and much more.

Advisor Duties

Advisor duties vary based on the company or farm they are working on. Some of their duties consist of the following:

• Meet with clients, understand their business requirements and express how you can add value
• Conducting research
• Manage client accounts and budgets
• Support clients with business planning and grant applications
• Determine solutions for client problems by conducting field trials
• Gather and analyse data, financial reports, crop yields and measure performance
• Organising presentations, preparing advisement brochures, and training clients
• Develop and apply strategies to improve current client conditions such as effective pest and disease control, and maintain livestock efficiently

Typical Employers

• Agricultural Businesses
• Government Agencies
• Private Farmers
• Research Centres for Farmers

Types of Advisors

• Agronomy
• Livestock
• Nutrition
• Conservation and environment
• Pest and disease control
• Feed

Required Education and Training

Advisors in the agriculture industry require a degree in agriculture or a relevant program such as agricultural engineering, crop and plant science, horticulture, soil science, environmental science, or other agricultural programs. Taking business courses alongside an agricultural program can be beneficial, especially for the business side of advisement. For those individuals wanting to get into the technical aspect of agricultural advisement, it is recommended to get a master's degree in a specific topic of interest such as seed and crop technology or something along the lines. A PhD can help you become a specialized advisor on a particular topic as well. A post graduate business degree will not give a benefit as much as an agricultural specialisation will.

Key Skills and Qualities

• Technical and analytical skills to help express the results to clients
• Financial and budgeting skills
• Attention to detail and organisation
• Strong communication skills to build a customer base and relate with clients
• Marketing, advisory, and negotiating abilities for repeat and new business
• Individual and team working skills

Average Salary

• Starting advisor salaries can range from £20,000 - £27,000
• The salary of an advisor with two to five years of experience ranges from £27,000 - £40,000
• Advisors with five plus years of experience can make between £30,000 - £50,000+

Agricultural advisement is typically project-based and paid by the hour or by the acre. Acre rates are typically given to long term clients, while short visits are typically paid by the hour. Advisors can also make performance bonuses in the private sector.