How to become a manager or proprietor in agriculture and horticulture
Official title: Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
Also called: Manager, Farm manager, Stock manager, Nursery manager, Operations manager, Production manager, Farm stock manager, Live stock manager, Wine maker, Farm owner, Vineyard owner
Managers and proprietors in this unit group plan, organise and co-ordinate the activities and resources of farming and mixed farming establishments cultivating arable crops, fruits, trees and shrubs, and/or raising cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Managers and proprietors in horticulture oversee the production of plants for wholesale and/or retail.
Main tasks
- Determines financial, staffing and other short and long-term needs
- Produces and maintains records of production, finance and breeding
- Decides or advises on the types of crops and/or produce to be grown or livestock raised
- Plans intensity and sequence of farm or horticultural operations and orders seed, fertiliser, equipment and other supplies
- Markets and arranges for the sale of crops, livestock and other farm or horticultural produce
How to become one
Whilst no formal academic qualifications are required by proprietors in this area, most farm and horticultural managers have a vocational agricultural qualification (such as a BTEC/SQA award) and prior practical farming experience. Many farm and horticultural management jobs require a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject. A small number of large farm and farm consultancy companies run graduate management training schemes. Apprenticeships are also available, as well as NVQs/SVQs in Agriculture at level 4.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Horticulture and landscaping technical manager (level 5). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0924.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £38,182 a year The middle half earn £31,503 to null.
- About 33,900 people work in this job now, and about 39,200 are projected by 2035. (+15.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a manager or proprietor in agriculture and horticulture?
Whilst no formal academic qualifications are required by proprietors in this area, most farm and horticultural managers have a vocational agricultural qualification (such as a BTEC/SQA award) and prior practical farming experience. Many farm and horticultural management jobs require a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject. A small number of large farm and farm consultancy companies run graduate management training schemes. Apprenticeships are also available, as well as NVQs/SVQs in Agriculture at level 4.
How much does a manager or proprietor in agriculture and horticulture earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £38,182 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a manager or proprietor in agriculture and horticulture a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2035, from about 33,900 to about 39,200 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a manager or proprietor in agriculture and horticulture?
Not always. 28% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Horticulture and landscaping technical manager (level 5).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03