Farm Advisors - Advising framers on business solutions

Posted by Christopher Nolt on February 26th, 2020

The clients include growers, farmers, public bodies, landowners, and conversation organizations. They offer advice on matters related to occupation and ownership of rural and land businesses.

As a farm advisor Colorado, you shall consult on either business or technical matters. Technical consultants offer specialist advice on livestock, agronomy, environment and conservation, waste management, nutrition, other technical applications.

The business consultants help with the following:

• personnel management
• business planning
• financial management and estate advice for agricultural farms and businesses

Responsibilities of Farm Advisors

The responsibilities of Farm Advisors are as follows:

• Visit clients for identifying and evaluating the business and technical needs
• Collect as well as analyze data, financial reports and crop yield for measuring performance
• Assisting clients with planning applications, business planning, legislative advice, government grant applications, and business ventures
• Prepare and modify operating or business plans
• Organizing and conducting field trials for finding out solutions to the problems of clients.
• Writing technical notes, advisory leaflets, articles, and press releases
• Handling the compliance, business, and paperwork involving modern farming
• Staying updated with the relevant documents
• Preparing reports, performing administrative duties, updating information, and managing accounts and budgets

Necessary skills to look out for

The skills you need as Farm Advisors are as follows:

• good communication skills to develop and establish relationships with clients
• analytical and technical skills and the ability for explaining findings
• negotiation, marketing, and advisory skills for developing new business opportunities and creating a client base
• financial skills
• the ability to work as a team or individually
• Accurate record-keeping and attention to detail.

Required work experience

Entry into the field of farm advisory is very competitive. A Farm Advisor in Colorado need a wide knowledge of farm management and agriculture along with work experience. Without adequate experience, it is quite difficult to get into the consultancy or advisory field. Gain experience in rural surveying, farm management, and other agricultural work. The employers of farm advisors generally include banks, Commercial agri-consultancies, Farming cooperatives, Government departments, Charities, conservation, and environmental bodies, and agricultural advisory body.

Career prospects

Career structure and development differ across various employing organizations. In a commercial agricultural consultancy, the salary is decided by the revenue earned and the performance of a farm advisor. In charity and public sectors, development is related to performance and degree of responsibility.

In smaller consultancies, promotion to a senior role is limited and you may need specialization. Career progression is in the form of a junior consultant to a senior consultant and then as a team leader and you can become a director or partner. There is not any set career structure though you can set up your consultancy.

The Bottom Line

Farm Advisors use their experience and knowledge for advising farmers on many topics such as agricultural methods and animal husbandry practices. They find employment in consulting services, private companies, and educational institutions. A degree in agriculture is needed along with training.