We're going to be publishing a piece in Farmers Weekly written by a college principal giving some advice to youngsters looking to follow a career in agriculture, so I thought it would be interesting to hear other people's advice for those hoping to follow this route.

My one bit of advice to anyone at school or college would be: Use at least some of your holidays productively, ie do work that will be relevant to what you ultimately hope to do. And stay in touch with holiday job employers... you might just find they're incredibly useful contacts one day!

Travel. Work at least in different parts of the UK but preferably other countries. Agriculture is coming into a new golden age and there are perhaps better opportunities where land is cheaper and more available than "old europe" Bon Courage, JC.

 ...be open to new ideas. The "agriculture" sector is huge and there may be opportunities that you previously hadn't considered. I had great plans to become an agronomist before starting my Ag degree, but ended up working on farms, then for a bank and now at FW!

Tim.Relf:

Farmers Weekly written by a college principal

When? This could be interesting.

Tim.Relf:

My one bit of advice to anyone at school or college would be

This is bifurcated answer.

If you are from a farming family business ensure you get out and do something else, anything and see how the other 99% in the nation earn a living. Try working for a supermarket or bank for a while.

If you are from a non farming family: Get an exchange placement in another country. Farmers in Britain are not as open minded in granting opportunities for experience as farmers in other countries. This is because in other countries you are seen by the farmers as someone moving through and not a threat, so when you ask questions they will help you in your quest. Farmers in this country view anyone who is not from farming as a stranger. You only need to look at what farmers say about city dwellers, people who complain about sprayers, pigeon scarers, anti-hunting, organic farmers. You are either in the club or not. The club is about 100,000 strong in England out of 60 million who live here.

Paul Spackman:

 ...be open to new ideas. The "agriculture" sector is huge and there may be opportunities that you previously hadn't considered. I had great plans to become an agronomist before starting my Ag degree, but ended up working on farms, then for a bank and now at FW!

It sounds like you left the banking sector at the right time

The only think I can think of for advice is to enjoy it and realise it is very unlikely you'll become a multi-millionaire from farming

Best advice is to do something different - at least for a while. There is a huge wide world out there, and agriculture has an unfortunate habit of looking inwards rather than outwards for inspiration.

Education, education, education, it doesn't have to be formal, but it will stand to you in the years to come.

Don't follow a well-paid job, persue an area the you are interested in, as it will make going to work allot more enjoyable.

Don't be afraid to ruffle some feathers with new ideas and principles. Challenge the established way of thinking and show them any benefits. Times have changed and its no longer "their" time, but yours. Those that don't keep up get left behind.

...have as many babies by as many different women as possible.

Not only will it be great fun, but you will also have your own "herd", and at a much lower cost that through farming.

TeslaCoils:

...have as many babies by as many different women as possible.

Not only will it be great fun, but you will also have your own "herd", and at a much lower cost that through farming.

I don't know I heard their mother insist on top of the range Range Rovers and Audi 4x4 plus Your "herd" can drown out a fog horn at odd times during the night

I'd say getting experience on as many different farms as possible (especially if your from a farm at home), as it gives you the opportunity to learn new ways of doing things, make contacts with others in the industry and do things that you might not do if you stayed on one farm all the time.. but also expect to have to work from the bottom to gain the experience required for the 'better' jobs. Working at a number of different farms will also increase your list of references for your CV!

...to do as many different things as possible in order to find what is best for you, and more importantly if you are from a non-farming family, to get experience and build your credibility for your next job. If you haven't done any farming much before, it is good to see as many different things as you can, build that experience but most of all drop onto something that you really enjoy and could hopefully make a career of. I have always found as well that a fairly rubbish job not only makes your mind up about where you might want to head career wise, but also makes you appreciate the really good jobs that are more enjoyable. Finally as well...look out for funding and try and use it for travel. There are little pots of money all over from people who like to see young people travel and gain experience of agriculture in different countries. Use it, and remember, all of the above applies equally in exciting places abroad as well!

 have some uncommited fun

 

not seedy... just fun, and enjoy being single, having loose relationships, and dont mind getting into relationships you know wont be forever.

 got loadss of people getting engaged at 16, 17, 18... and everything else, if it makes you happy, and its going to last,  then go for it!

 

however, look at the theory, you start having fun when your 16... have 10 years of fun, and then get married, and have 60 years of marriage

 you dont have to get married to the first person you conect with

Work hard and play hard. Know the differance between the time to work and the time to play when u get home at 10pm on a friday night and have to be at work for 6 dont go out on the town go to bed.

Be nice to people on the way up because you might need them on the way down!

remember, as a college lecturer told us all on the first day, that the world is run by the people that show up. I liked that. And it's true.

"Grasp the Nettle"

If you want it, go for it even if there's a chance of pain along the way. If it's worth the risk let nothing hold you back.

adam bedford:

remember, as a college lecturer told us all on the first day, that the world is run by the people that show up. I liked that. And it's true.

I like that quote. One of my lecturers said to us in the first week: if you leave here in three years having just passed to your exams and done nothing more, you'll have wasted your time!

Only do stuff that makes a profit, if there is no profit in conventional farming look to renewable energy or get a "proper" job. If you produce food at a loss you are cutting your own throat and contributing to the overproduction which is forcing every farmer into poverty.

Buffalo Billy:

Only do stuff that makes a profit

Nah, make sure you have plenty of fun doing whatever you do. No point being richest corpse in the graveyard.

Be happy and positive, make friends and always be someone that people like to have contact with. Thjs is universal and will make a good career in anything far more likely, and certainly a whole lot more rewarding.