How to find the perfect harvest job

Finding a harvest job is an exciting thought for any young prospective farmer as harvest is the highlight of the agricultural calendar.

Jobs are advertised in many places, so it is important to know where to look to find the right one for you. A good first port of call would be the back of this magazine, which in a few weeks’ time will be full of adverts for them. College email systems are also useful. Even if you aren’t studying at one of these institutions, it is a good idea to speak to someone and ask them to tell you what is available.

Another source not to be underestimated is word of mouth. A recommendation from another student is valuable as it is more likely to guarantee you a decent employer and a good place to work.

When looking through adverts don’t get drawn to the ones with the largest acreage and the biggest kit. From my experience, you are often more likely to have a better experience at a smaller family-run farm than at a large agri-business.

Also consider whether you want to stick to what you know or branch out and try something new. Purely arable farms are fine if you’re happy grain-carting or combining, but if you decide you’ve done your fair share of this, choosing a business with a range of enterprises may broaden your experience.

A farm with livestock can help to relieve you from the tedium of a tractor seat, but even one growing crops that you have limited experience with may provide you with the chance to try something new.

Having chosen the job that you want, the next step is to line up an interview. At this stage, the key is to be keen. Ask lots of questions regarding operations on the farm, find out the size of the harvest and the range of cropping. This will help to show you are enthusiastic and will let you know if it’s the right job for you.

Another good way to test the job’s suitability is to try to meet the other employees. These will potentially be your colleagues and meeting them will give you a good idea of the farm’s atmosphere.

My next top tip is to ensure your car is spotless when you arrive at an interview. I was once told that some farmers believe that how you treat your car is a good indication of how you’re going to treat their tractors. So it’s worth running the hose over it before you set off.

Money-wise, you have the opportunity to earn a good amount. Most farms tend to stick to the guidelines of the Agricultural Wages Board, so if you find somewhere offering more, treat it as a bonus.

On average, you can expect to be working 70 hours a week and will earn something in the region of £500 a week. Lots of overtime, coupled with a lack of time to spend it, means that come September you will have a sizeable chunk left.

Perks such as food (fish and chips in the field) and accommodation (static caravans) are often thrown in. When it comes to accommodation, don’t expect five stars. A static caravan or a room in the farmhouse are the most common options, and either can work well depending on the type of person you are. The farmhouse is usually warmer, but the caravan provides you with your own space, so weigh up the pros and cons if you are offered both.

Your first day on the farm will inevitably entail the obligatory grain-store cleaning initiation. This will soon get you out of your pen-pushing student mode. A day sweeping out the grain store will bring back all your blisters and a day spent itching from barley dust will prepare you for the months ahead.

It’s not all bad though. Soon after you can expect to be introduced to your tractor (living quarters) and the next step is the standard spring clean and the competition for who can have the cleanest tractor.

Harvest is a great way of forming a team; everyone has a job to do and each is responsible for doing their bit to get the crop from the field to the shed.

During the summer, students from all over the country mix. We often have a lad from Yorkshire work for us in Devon, resulting in a language barrier of regional dialect. I’ve heard the words draying, ferrying, leading, and carting all used for the same thing.

There is also often a huge age demographic on farms, but with everyone united together against the weather, people soon bond. This aspect of harvest is good fun, and competitions begin to see who can collect the perfect load of grain from the combine. Tractors fitted with CB radios encourage this game and you can expect a fair ribbing if you spill even a single grain.

From your harvest job you can expect to have a good laugh, a great experience, and earn a decent amount of money, making all of those long hours worthwhile.

Start considering your options early. There are lots of elements to take into account and taking the time to find the right one for you is worth the effort.