Qualifications required for Seasonal harvest work Carting etc

[Matt150406]

Hi folks.
I’m currently coming up on my 18th birthday and have just passed my car driving test. I was wondering now I have that under my belt what it would take to become qualified for seasonal tractor work during harvest perhaps carting. I have very little farm experience so am in the dark on this.Would it require gaining a sh!t load of tests or is it covered to a certain extend under the basic category f entitlement that you receive with your car license
Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks

 

[Jsmith2211]

Put your location down, and simply ask the question on here.
Someone will surely know of someone who wants to hire a keen youngster.
You're going to have to be realistic in your expectations, and as said above, show keen on the bigger picture for farm work.
The best experience is always learning on the job.

Probably a mixed farm would be best to start off on. Plenty of other duties to be getting on with and when its quiet maybe do some tractor work to build that experience. Seasonal harvest jobs probably come later when theres that experience.

Should also be noted that while there are a lot of youngsters doing harvest jobs etc, most of them will have grown up in the seat of a tractor, as soon as the feet touch the pedals (or before in some cases) they're driving tractors. Starting from nil is not impossible at all, but takes effort. And if you are willing to put in that effort then you'll go far. Its a great industry to be in despite what some on here may lead you to think.

 

[tr250]

Showing your age

He’s a bit flash what’s wrong with 2 knobs and only Lw and Mw

 

[L P]

The lantra tests are a bit of a joke. Not done the tractor one but done the sprayer one and its drive an MF 1740 with a 6M hardi up and down a field job done now you can drive 36M of bateman... I've employed people who've not driven a tractor to do raking for me when i'm flat out with hay before, you just have to think ahead. In my case I got them to come down when I was doing silage and didn't really need the help (and there wasnt a rush) and showed them the ropes. Best way to learn is by doing the job. Also if you can do it like that then you're there supervising but they also get the independance and dont feel like you're breathing down their neck. Having said that, its one thing to let someone loose with a 575 and single rotor rake in a field, quite another to put someone on 180hp with 14t behind on the public highway! Definitely have to start small, find someone willing to show you the ropes and train you up. Probably have to be prepaired to do some of the shitter jobs first with the odd bit of driving before you get into a full time driving job. Yes experience is what everyone wants, but theres sod all people about who are experienced and want to work. Being keen to do the job is 75% of it honestly, and if you are reliable, show up when you say you will etc people will be willing to train you up.

It's quite sad really just how little opportunity/infrastructure is in place to train up people keen to get into farming. Often wonder if there is a place for on-farm formal training.

 

[Bury the Trash]

lantra are a bunch of muppets .

 

[Jsmith2211]

He’s a bit flash what’s wrong with 2 knobs and only Lw and Mw

Its alright till you get into the shed and you miss the answer to the quiz you've been waiting to hear the answer to for the last 15 minutes!

It's quite sad really just how little opportunity/infrastructure is in place to train up people keen to get into farming. Often wonder if there is a place for on-farm formal training.

I think a lot of the blame lies with the colleges. Cant get proper training. Its all theory with maybe a little bit of tractor driving here and there but not anywhere near enough practicality and most of them just spend the time messing around it seems. There is a place for a good practical ag course that really prepares people for a job, perhaps 6 months focussing around harvest?

 

[L P]

Its alright till you get into the shed and you miss the answer to the quiz you've been waiting to hear the answer to for the last 15 minutes!



I think a lot of the blame lies with the colleges. Cant get proper training. Its all theory with maybe a little bit of tractor driving here and there but not anywhere near enough practicality and most of them just spend the time messing around it seems. There is a place for a good practical ag course that really prepares people for a job, perhaps 6 months focussing around harvest?

3 harvests ago I took on a local farm managers son for harvest, he couldn't get onto his college farming course without 6 weeks farm employment first, can't get more arse about face than that...

 

[Jsmith2211]

3 harvests ago I took on a local farm managers son for harvest, he couldn't get onto his college farming course without 6 weeks farm employment first, can't get more arse about face than that...

It is like the courses are for teaching farmers what they already know how to do... don't see much of a point.

 

[Still Farming]

Not aimed at you or the OP, but this sort of thread annoys me, we are all realising the shortage of upcoming farm labour, but, honestly, who is ever going to take on an 18 year old lad as an out and out tractor driver because he spent 4 days, probably including 4 hours driving a tractor who has gained a piece of paper to say he can safely go back and forth. Why can't folk be a bit more honest and just tell the OP that it wont happen without a good amount of experience, not a piece of paper. Tractor driving jobs hardly exist, there is work for experienced operators, there is work for the likes of the OP, where he starts at the bottom just like we all did.

Exactly.
But currently it don't sound like he had any tractor experience and because passing a car test the driving licence states your legal to drive them and other forms of vehicles.
Also can be said of a kid at 16 passing his tractor test and then working for a contractor hauling silage etc with a 200 hp tractor and 16 t trailer set ups , that happens without questions even though the small print is in reality a " grey fergi and cart" legality size.
Your never going to get experience without experience, we all know, but the law is the law currently with driving licences and hopefully those that employ persons treat it accordingly.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Tickets & training won’t necessarily get you the job, but they WILL get you through the door to an interview

 

[stroller]

Always remember it takes a lot to stop a tractor and full trailer, and be wary of roundabouts with a thing called frequency roll. When entering a roundabout in this country you will steer to the left, then back to the right as you progress round, this shifts all the weight to the right to start with, then back to the left as you steer right, if you are going too fast the steering left then right will topple you over. Just study the "Wreckers" thread and see how many trailers are lying on their side at roundabouts.

 

[Matt150406]

Not aimed at you or the OP, but this sort of thread annoys me, we are all realising the shortage of upcoming farm labour, but, honestly, who is ever going to take on an 18 year old lad as an out and out tractor driver because he spent 4 days, probably including 4 hours driving a tractor who has gained a piece of paper to say he can safely go back and forth. Why can't folk be a bit more honest and just tell the OP that it wont happen without a good amount of experience, not a piece of paper. Tractor driving jobs hardly exist, there is work for experienced operators, there is work for the likes of the OP, where he starts at the bottom just like we all did

I do completely understand that. I never expected I’d just be hopping in to a piece of equipment and told to figure it out. My aim was just to figure out what steps I could take as the internet has little info on all this. I guess my earlier comment where I mentioned I’d be in the tractor this summer may have been taken more literally than I intended but that was never something I’d have expected nor would it be something I’d do even if theoretically I could. Thanks for all the support LP I'm very grateful for how helpful everyone is

 

[stroller]

I do completely understand that. I never expected I’d just be hopping in to a piece of equipment and told to figure it out. My aim was just to figure out what steps I could take as the internet has little info on all this. I guess my earlier comment where I mentioned I’d be in the tractor this summer may have been taken more literally than I intended but that was never something I’d have expected nor would it be something I’d do even if theoretically I could. Thanks for all the support LP I'm very grateful for how helpful everyone is

What part of the country are you in that might help?

 

[Chae1]

Would you learn anything on farm simulator!?

Watched a film at the weekend about a lad who played gran turismo on his computer and went on to become a successful racing car driver. It's apparently a true story.

 

[L P]

I do completely understand that. I never expected I’d just be hopping in to a piece of equipment and told to figure it out. My aim was just to figure out what steps I could take as the internet has little info on all this. I guess my earlier comment where I mentioned I’d be in the tractor this summer may have been taken more literally than I intended but that was never something I’d have expected nor would it be something I’d do even if theoretically I could. Thanks for all the support LP I'm very grateful for how helpful everyone is

I really hope you get an opening into farming. There are plenty of opportunities to get into it... yes, you could do the lantra course and it might be worth it. You'd likely do much better and gain a wealth of experience along the way by offering a bit of labour about, you'll be paid the same although it will start with manual work and the odd sortie on a machine on most farms, show a bit of aptitude you'll soon be indispensable. Where in the country are you? If Berkshire I might be able to help get you started. It would pay to offer your services on a seperate post. Good luck!

 

[AnyOldName]

Would you learn anything on farm simulator!?

Watched a film at the weekend about a lad who played gran turismo on his computer and went on to become a successful racing car driver. It's apparently a true story.

Playing Gran Turismo is practise for carting with an AD firm, think the OP is more interested in grain harvest.

 

[ollie989898]

Get on farm now with someone to teach you and give you time to learn and you will be ready in time for harvest no problem.

If you are enthusiastic then that is half the battle. Just go steady and if you can't see then get out and look.

Most of us started out by driving a scraper tractor or being allowed to go flat rolling for hours on end. Then it was something else, then a bit of muck spreading, then on the road a bit, then grain cart, then a bit of baling. Then a go on the mowers, toppers, it all builds on your experience.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

3 harvests ago I took on a local farm managers son for harvest, he couldn't get onto his college farming course without 6 weeks farm employment first, can't get more arse about face than that...

It was a minimum of a year’s experience in the 1980’s or no entry to Ag College
6 weeks !!!!
Just shows how it’s been devalued in 40 years-the value of practical experience for a very diverse industry

 

[Will 1594]

It's quite sad really just how little opportunity/infrastructure is in place to train up people keen to get into farming. Often wonder if there is a place for on-farm formal training.

it’s hse and insurance that is one of issues now and no one dare take the risk
years ago a young lad might go down the farm and help out and start his “apprentice ship “ maybe 10 year old , and a lot more staff to tag along with and get to have ago at doing things . less staff big kit no time to show how to do , is not helping . and smart phones and this social media and x boxes etc and sadly too many far removed from ag now and wages better plenty other things out there ,

 

[Bongodog]

The best qaulification would be to spend an hour looking through the "Wreckers" thread in the machinery section