Agricultural crop production includes primarily arable production, including combinable grains, oil seeds, sugar beet and potatoes, and related agricultural contracting.  It should also be noted that some farms produce crops, fruit and vegetables, and many produce crops and livestock.  In addition some farms have diversified their cropping to include energy and bio-fuel crops, trees and short rotation coppice and field scale flower and bulb production.

Key statistics on the industry:

• 93.2% of businesses employ less than 10 people
• 55.7% of the workforce are proprietors
• 73.3% of proprietors are male, 76.5% of staff are male
• over one third of staff are under 35 years
• common annual business turnover is £50,000-£100,000
• 7% of all establishments report vacancies
• 3.5% report that these vacancies are hard-to-fill
• no skill shortage vacancies are reported
• 0.8% of the workforce have skills gaps

Recruiting to the industry is difficult as there is a poor image of the industry, the work, lifestyle and salary levels.  Smaller businesses have the most difficulty in attracting, recruiting and affording new and appropriately skilled staff.

There is inconsistent training provision across the UK, with some major deficiencies in both geographic coverage and specific vocational skills areas.

There is a shortage for general farm workers with basic maintenance skills.  There is concern that graduates do not have the high level of skills required to operate the machinery.

Specific future skill needs:

• specialist machinery operation and maintenance
• agronomy skills relating to plant nutrients and crop protection,
• business planning and management skills
• people management, team working and leadership skills
• IT skills to support business management and marketing

Although, there are no large skills gaps reported, information technologies are most likely to be reported.  With diversification and technological changes there will be a need for the workforce to develop very specific technical skills.  The workforce will need to be able to manage risk, project manage and have both financial and management skills.  Overall business planning, management, marketing and promotion skills are needed. 

Industry drivers affecting future work and employment include:

• the need for professional farm management skills and relevant scientific, environmental and technological knowledge as productivity levels are increased and environment issues increase in importance
• a more competitive international market
• growing importance of IT and job-specific skills
• growing trend in larger farm enterprises
• diversification into non-farming enterprises and adding value to products
• need for higher level skills and knowledge
• increasing demand for an organic market

Source: Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Key Drivers of Skill Demand 2005, Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Annex 2.7 2005 and Agricultural Crops Industry report 2005

For regional distribution of businesses and employees in the industry see:

Geographical distribution of agricultural crops industry, 2005