Farming as a profession
Being a farmer is an exceptionally varied job. It involves a wide range of tasks and thus requires a broad set of skills.
One of the main tasks of a farmer is to produce food such as milk, meat, grain, eggs, vegetables or fruit. Through their work, farmers help to preserve rural areas – whether by engaging in nature conservation, protecting water resources, maintaining the landscape, or running a farm shop or wine tavern. They can also contribute to the energy transition by producing renewable energy, such as agrivoltaics (also known as agrophotovoltaics), and they play an important role in climate protection by storing carbon (CO₂) in agricultural land. These are all services that farmers provide for the benefit of society.
Being a farmer is a varied profession that involves not only working with animals in the barn and with crops and soil in the field, but also carrying out office tasks such as accounting, farm management, crop planning and detailed record-keeping for farm operations and livestock management.
Those starting a career in farming have usually completed training at the Lycée Technique Agricole – whether as a farmer, agricultural technician or agricultural worker – or they hold a qualification in horticulture. An increasing number of farmers also have a degree in agricultural sciences.
Anyone wishing to become a farmer should have the following skills, interests and attributes:
- Enjoy working with animals
- Enjoy working outdoors
- An interest in natural sciences (especially biology and chemistry)
- Practical skills and an interest in modern technology
- Stamina, physical fitness and enjoyment of physical work
- An interest in business management and organization
- Enjoyment of working independently and taking responsibility
- Good powers of observation
- Willingness to engage in ongoing training and development
Further information on training opportunities is available from the Lycée Technique Agricole and the Chamber of Agriculture.