Agricultural Engineer

Also known as:

Engineer, Agricultural
Farming Engineer
Land Based Engineer

Introduction

Agricultural engineers use engineering science to design and develop agricultural machinery and equipment. Areas of specialisation include vehicle and machine manufacture, drainage systems, farm organisation and field engineering.

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Work Activities

Agricultural engineers use their technical knowledge and skills to design, develop, manufacture, install and manage machinery, buildings, vehicles and drainage systems. As well as agriculture, they may work in horticulture and forestry. Agricultural engineers need a broad-based knowledge of mechanical, electrical, civil and environmental engineering.

After their initial training, most agricultural engineers choose to specialise in one of the following: vehicle and machine manufacture, sales and servicing, farm organisation or field engineering.

Agricultural engineers design, plan and test new specifications for machinery and equipment to help farmers to cultivate, drain and irrigate soil; to sow, spray or harvest crops; to grade, store or process produce; and house, feed or water livestock.

Most manufacturing companies are small, so the engineer is usually responsible for more than one function. In a large manufacturing company, the engineer is more likely to have a specialist area and work as part of a team with mechanical and production engineers, materials scientists and costing experts.

Agricultural engineers may work for local machinery dealers. They supply farmers, local councils and domestic customers with suitable machinery, as well as advice, information and after-sales service.

Agricultural engineers also provide an advice and information service to growers and to manufacturers of machinery and equipment. In service departments, engineers repair and maintain a wide range of machinery.

Engineers may be involved in farm organisation. They design the layout of buildings like crop dryers and greenhouses, to make sure farming and horticultural processes are carried out with maximum efficiency.

Agricultural engineers also select and install computer-controlled systems that regulate temperature, humidity and feeding rates.

Agricultural engineers are increasingly involved with the conservation of the rural environment, for example, through waste management. Field engineers are responsible for the management of rural land and for planning the most efficient use of soil and water resources. Engineers design and install systems that irrigate dry land, drain swamps and limit the damage caused by soil erosion. In developing countries, there is a great need for agricultural engineers who can introduce methods to reduce crop failure and increase crop yield, while being aware of conservation issues.

Agricultural engineers often have supervisory or management responsibility for teams including other engineers, engineering technicians and mechanics.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As well as engineering expertise (including mechanical, hydraulic and electronic systems), you will need an understanding of the types of problems that exist in agriculture.

You will need to combine technical ability with creativity and imagination to solve these problems.

This is an area where technology is advancing quickly, so you must be willing to learn and develop new knowledge to keep up.

You must have organisational skills to plan and co-ordinate resources.

You also need good communication skills, to explain engineering systems and machinery to people from non-engineering backgrounds.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries for agricultural engineers vary depending on employer, role and responsibilities.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Agricultural engineers earn in the range of £18,500 - £24,000 a year, rising to £29,500 - £35,000. Higher earners can make around £40,000 a year, and higher salaries are possible.

Most agricultural engineers work 35-40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, early starts, late finishes and some weekend work may be required, especially as deadlines approach.

There is a wide range of employers, including those that make agricultural machinery and equipment. You can also work in farm, forestry and estate management, environmental or conservation management or government projects.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Engineering) could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Financial support for agricultural/garden service engineering may be available from the Douglas Bomford Trust.

Other pathways through which candidates can register with the Engineering Council as Chartered or Incorporated Engineers include career progression from other levels of registration and routes based on the achievement of occupational standards.

• 6% of people in occupations such as agricultural engineer work part-time.
• 10% have flexible hours.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as conservation or countryside management.