can anyone give me any pointers on where to start looking for farm work abroad. I've decided that i'm gonna persue my career where farmers are respected and well thought of, and the way this country is going i wouldn't want to bring my kids up here anyway. I'm 28 years old and would be looking for a permanent job on a large arable and/or beef unit. Was thinking either eastern europe or south america but open to any ideas and suggestions. One thing i am sure off is that by 2011 i want me and my other half to be in a different country starting a new life. So if anyone knows of where i should start looking or of any websites i can get my c.v posted on i'd appricate it

I'm afraid I don't know any websites.

Your post does highlight a point made by YFC chairman Bryce Mackellar in a Talking Point a couple of weeks ago. He warned the good people will go to whatever county offers them the best opportunity. Are we in the midst of a farming brain drain?

This year 5 of my friends have left the industry because of working hours and low pay and the cost of living in the countryside. I promised a family membe 15 years,ago I'd always stay farming and I can't see anyway of keeping that promise working in England

 

I found a job in New Zealand from an advert in the farmers guardian, i was offered the job and without asking  many questions i went out there. The job was pretty awful but working there for a month meant i could get to know the area and went for another job that i loved. Avoid agriventure style adverts but i think if you can find a job like the one I did, that puts you in the position that once you're in the country you have a house and job garenteed. This means that once you're settled you can go on to find better one. Granted your employer might be a bit annoyed...luckily i'd not signed a contract or anything though so it wasn't really an issue.
If you havn't been, New Zealand culture is fantastic because there is so many more farmers than in England so a lot more respect and understanding all round...and so far there isn't as much regulation as over here!! 

 

Kansasfarmer might know if there are any sites in the US

Hey S**t4brains (ha ha - writing that made me chuckle!).

It's a bit of a case of trawling the internet unfortunately... But here are some suggestions:

Gumtree is always a good bet but you need to be patient in searching through (they used to have an agricutural section but I don't know what's happened to that!

This website seems good - I have run a quick search: http://www.agcareers.com/results.cfm?formname=quicksearch&keywords=herd+manager

Also the NAAC has some overseas jobs, too: http://www.naac.co.uk/Vacancies.aspx (scroll to the bottom)

This is a bit volunteer based: http://www.stopdodo.com/

Did you go to any college/university? I found a great job in NZ for my placement through my Professor. Even if you didn't, it may be worth asking someone like the Royal Agricultural College or Harper Adams for any contacts they might have from past students.

It will take a lot of trawling - but I am confident that you'll find lots of exciting possibilities! I'm very jealous!

Em

Have you got a country in mind?

s**t4brains:

I've decided that i'm gonna persue my career where farmers are respected

This is a difficult one, I have been most fortunate to travel to many different places. What I have found is agriculture is in a difficult situation all across the planet. I know that on the face of it there would appear to be more sympathy to farmers if you read headlines and believe them, in some countries. Generally society is changing in the more agrarian based countries to an industrial society. The question you must ask your self is, as it is you and your life, what respect do I want?

s**t4brains:

Was thinking either eastern europe or south america

First learn the language. Maybe you are already bi lingual?

Eastern Europe is difficult due to climate, economics and very different social working. We have exchange with Romania, Germany (old east) and Hungary. They have very different pressure. We have also someone going to Slovenia to farm, but she came from there to here a while back. The biggest barrier to your advancement will be language in these places. Also in some of these places the average monthly wage may be £40. However if you are taking technical skills and managerial abilities with you it can be different. South America you will need Spanish or Portuguese and maybe contact some of the big conglomerates e.g.Cargill.

s**t4brains:

websites i can get my c.v. posted

I think you will have to be more proactive that this. Speak to people, get out and about and ask questions. There are already many British companies farming abroad G's for example are one of the biggest salad growers in Europe, there are examples often published in farmers weekly of operations in Eastern Europe Andrew Hunter is another example. Many of the agricultural colleges have exchange activities under European Social Programme. (Erasmus, leonardo, Socrates, Grundtvig and Comenius are examples)

What I would say is; when I was a younger man I went to many countries to pursue my dream of farming, that was about 1976. The best advice I was ever given came from Alec Gunton who farmed in New Zealand, a really lovely guy. He said to me "Look if you are going to make a success of your life it is down to you, not the location. So you coming to New Zealand will not necessarily make you a success or happy. The place you do that is in your own head." I have never forgotten this.

You must sit down and write yourself a list of questions and answer them honestly, you must take the emotion out of your planning and be rational with yourself. Look into your soul and don't tell you self stories.

People buy with emotion, not rational decision. It can be said that people buy for the right reason, and then they buy for the real reason. So, I ask you as my parting shot what is your real reason for going to another country?

Here is wishing you well, and good luck.

Right, here is where I am right now, I left school at 15 and started work. I've worked from the Welsh mountains to the fens. I'f a main stream crop grows in this country I've drilled or planted it, I've mown, cut, chopped, lifted,combined, clamped, stored and cultivated after it . I've driven pretty much everything from a 35 to the newest Fendt 933 and I still love doing it. I managed men and machines for two large scale contractors and run my own firm. I've done all I've wanted to do so far but think there's a lot more I could achieve. I also want to build a solid life for me and the Mrs. Now I know it could ne done here but it can also be done abroad. The better half has a degree in equine science and she can se no reason why we have to stay in England. This is only very start of the plan for the future but I've got to start somewhere!

Since I first posted this thread things have moved on along way and my life is having a fairly major change on the horizon so I thought I'd fill you all in. My partner and I decided we wanted to start making plans to move out to the mid western U.S.A and we began searching for info on immigration and planning a trip over to find somewhere we would've liked to live, even e mailed Kansasfarmer for any pointers in the right direction when I had some news I really wasn't expecting. My better half told me that I'm gonna be a dad for the first time and I think it was just about the best few words I've ever heard. We're now 4 months in, past all the sickness, had the first scan which was all good and got lots of happy family members including 4 SETS of exited grand parents as it will be the first grandchild. We have the second scan in 5 weeks and we'll find out then what colour the nursery is going to be but right now my world seems to just seems to involve many catalogues looking at prams, cots, clothes and furniture and been permanently shocked at how expensive if all is (750 quid for the pram she just has to have). We do still want to make the move too the U.S.A, even more so now than before to try make a better future for the rapidly expanding bump, just going have to put our plans on hold for at least a couple of years now. Will keep you all posted on how everything goes, but with bump been due end of July can see some stressful times ahead and everyone seems really happy to tell me we planned it like this so I can have some time off in the summer which I have to admit does sound like a good idea. Sorry for such a long post but as you can probably tell I'm fairly exited and did have a lot to say!!

Congratulations! :)

That's fabulous news. Congratulations.

Congratulations too. I would suggest waiting until your son/daughter is toddling before you move overseas. There is an awful lot of hassle moving around even locally with a baby, not so much with a toddler, and by the time they reach 4 they want to know "where are we going next". At least that is our experience. We also decided one was enough to move with. 

Cannot edit. Hit wrong key on keypad - 7 not 4.

Found out yesterday, we're having a little boy how cool is that? Mum and bump are in fine health and now I'm getting proper exited. So much so that I let the better half buy the pram (good god there expensive). 19 more weeks till I get too see him in the flesh and I can't wait

Very exciting. Lots of blue paint and clothes being purchased then..?!