Farmhands are in charge of carrying out the most basic and necessary activities to ensure the proper functioning of the farm and guarantee its viability. They carry out auxiliary operations of land preparation, sowing, pruning, harvesting, irrigation, fertilisation and application of phytosanitary treatments on agricultural crops. In this sense, they always carry out their tasks under the supervision of the farm technician.

In relation to this professional figure, it should be said that it is often identified with the concept of seasonal worker, given that agricultural production has marked seasonal nature and that labour is often required on an extraordinary and occasional basis (for fruit and vegetable harvesting, among others). However, the maintenance of a farm in production requires continuous work throughout the year or the production cycle, the most basic tasks of which are also undertaken by these professionals.

They can work on farms, extensive farms, horticultural farms, fruit tree farms, arable and cut flower farms, nurseries and seedbeds.

• Prepare the land by means of clearing, weeding and cleaning operations, among others, using specific machinery such as cultivators or weeding machines, in order to prepare it for agricultural uses and especially for agricultural production.
• Make holes and dig trenches with the appropriate tools and the necessary dimensions, accumulating soil and marking the ground with marking equipment according to the instructions received.
• Carry out pruning, sowing and planting tasks of agricultural crops, carried out manually or with small machinery.
• Carry out irrigation operations using drainage equipment and/or irrigation installations, preliminary tanning (with chemical or organic fertilisers) to improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of seeds and the application of treatments on agricultural crops.
• Responsible for the installation of infrastructures, where appropriate, to protect the agricultural crop such as acclimatisation tunnel, mulching, windbreaks, covers, greenhouses, nurseries, irrigation systems, anti-aphid nets or shading nets or others.
• Responsible for the maintenance of the facilities of agricultural holdings and carry out crop harvesting tasks, manually or with the corresponding agricultural machinery.
• Ensure health and safety in their workplace, using machinery and tools related to their activity, as well as the means and protective equipment made available, in accordance with the established procedures and the regulations in occupational safety and health.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Activitats auxiliars en agricultura (Nivell 1)
• Minimum compulsory education
• A-levels

Complementary training

• Good practice in the harvesting of fruit and vegetables
• Application of phytosanitary products
• Driving and maintenance of agricultural machinery
• Forklift training course
• Pruning course
• Food hygiene and safety courses
  

Other specific skills

Companies are increasingly demanding more experience and training to perform harvesting tasks. For pruning work and the application of phytosanitary products, experience and specific qualifications are required (Pesticide Applicator Certification I). Experience in the use of machines and a type B driving license are required to drive agricultural machines.

Flexibility and change management: Level 1

Orientation within reach: Level 1

Planning and organisation: Level 1

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Mechanical handling

People related to the field of mechanical handling are interested in the assembly, maintenance, repair and use of machines, tools and installations. Some good examples of professional activities in the field of mechanical handling are adjusting and configuring machines, reviewing technical equipment to detect incidents in their operation, handling machinery in production processes and driving specialised vehicles.

Environment

People who work in this field focus their professional interests on the preservation, improvement or restoration of the environment (vegetation, fauna, flora) in both built-up areas and natural spaces. Some of the activities that represent this field are the detection, analysis and control of pollutants, the carrying out of measurements and tests in relation to climatic or environmental variables and the reduction of the harmful effects of human activity on the environment. The carrying out of these activities requires knowledge of the environment, for its planning and use, and of environmental regulations.

Spray plasterer

Food handler on fishing vessels

Pharmaceutical and related products handler

Plant operator

Thermo-clay bricklayer

• Work hours

  It is usually from Monday to Saturday, 8 hours a day. Depending on the time of the year and the type of farm, the workday is split and/or short working day.
  
  

• Salary

  On farms it is common to be paid on an hourly basis. Currently the gross wage is 7.41€/hour and the net wage is 6.78€/hour. Therefore, the average annual salary remuneration is around 15,000 € gross.
  

• Professional category

  Non-specialist staff