Farm secretaries, also known as agricultural or rural administrators, run the business side of a farm and give secretarial support to farmers and farm managers. They deal with a large amount of paperwork and spend a lot of time dealing with accounts.

Their duties include:

• keeping records of livestock and crops, to help with planning future crop and stock levels
• completing forms for government grants and subsidies
• keeping farm accounts and dealing with budgets and tax returns
• dealing with wages and employment records
• costing, ordering and paying for equipment and supplies
• general secretarial duties like typing and filing
• keeping up to date with relevant farming, health and safety and tax laws.

Hours and Environment

The work is mainly office-based. Farm secretaries may work on a single farm or estate as a full-time resident secretary, or they may work at more than one farm as a mobile secretary.

Most resident secretaries live near to the farm, and often have a cottage or furnished flat provided with the job. They usually work 39 hours a week Monday to Friday, but may also sometimes need to work at the weekend.

Mobile farm secretaries need their own transport to travel between farms. They are usually self-employed freelance workers, so their hours can vary.

Skills and Interests

To be a farm secretary you should:

• have good numeracy skills, for working with accounts
• have good computer skills
• work well both alone and as part of a team
• have good spoken and written communication skills
• be well-organised
• work accurately and pay attention to detail
• be interested in farming and rural life

A driving licence is essential for most jobs.

Entry

You do not need any set qualifications to become a farm secretary, but you will need good secretarial skills and some knowledge of farming. Experience of living or working on a farm is very useful.

There are currently no full-time courses available in farm administration alone. You may find it useful to study for a book-keeping or accounting qualification, such as an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification. (See the Accounts Clerk/Book-keeper profile for more details). You may also find it useful to study for a qualification in secretarial work or business administration.

Agricultural colleges and universities offer BTEC/SQA National Certificates/Diplomas, Foundation Degrees and degrees in agricultural or farm management that may be useful.

Training

You will usually be trained on the job. Your training may include the use of some specialised agricultural business computer packages.

The National Proficiency Training Council (NPTC) offers a Certificate in Rural Business Administration - see their website for a list of approved training centres.

You can get professional recognition by joining the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA). IAgSA also runs a Continuing Professional Development scheme for its members to keep updating their skills. Contact IAgSA for more details (see the Further Information section).

Opportunities

Farm secretaries working in a large estate office may be able to take on more management responsibilities such as managing the finances and running the business.

Self-employment is possible.

Farm secretaries could also use their knowledge and skills to work in other types of rural or agricultural business, such as stables, feed merchants, agricultural colleges or countryside management.

Annual Income

These figures are intended as a guideline only. 

Farm secretaries may start on around £12,000 to £15,000 a year.
With more experience, farm secretaries you could earn £16,000 to £20,000. 
Successful freelance farm secretaries could earn up to £25,000 a year.

Resident farm secretaries may earn less, but may get free living accommodation or other benefits.

Further information

154 Clerkenwell Rd
London
EC1R 5AD
Tel: 020 7415 7660
Stoneleigh Park
Stoneleigh
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 024 7685 7300
National Agricultural Centre
Stoneleigh
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2LZ
Tel: 024 7669 6592