Tell me about it
Agricultural engineers design and develop new equipment and technology for use in land-based industries, such as agriculture and horticulture. Their work also involves field testing and evaluation, technical support, and the education of customers and operators.

They work in a wide range of areas - all focused on using technology to make agriculture and horticulture more efficient and productive. Land-based engineering also includes environmental and conservation work, irrigation, forestry and the leisure and recreation industry.

The best known area of work for agricultural engineers is manufacturing, where they create new products such as tractors, ploughs, combine harvesters, sprayers, and forestry, horticultural and ground care equipment. They also maintain and repair agricultural machinery. Slightly less well known are areas such as field engineering - developing new equipment to deal with problems such as soil erosion, irrigation and drainage, and to protect and process crops, and environmental control - designing electronic systems to control the conditions inside buildings used to house livestock or to dry and store crops.

Agricultural engineers also work with specialists such as agronomists, geneticists and microbiologists to develop and support solutions to specific land-based issues.

Entry level
You could enter agricultural engineering at craft or technician level, by following an Apprenticeship or studying towards a relevant qualification such as the National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering. You may then be offered the opportunity to train at a higher level.

A more direct route to professional engineer level would be to study for a degree or Higher National Award (HNC/HND) in Agricultural Engineering or a related subject such as environmental, mechanical or automotive engineering. Entry to a relevant degree course is with a minimum of two A levels/four H grades or the equivalent, including maths and/or engineering science/physics, plus five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3). Entry to the HNC/HND requires one A level/two H grades, or the equivalent, plus four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3).

Making the grade
As a new agricultural engineer, you would complete a period of initial professional development (IPD) when you start work. Larger employers may offer a structured training scheme, allowing you to gain experience in different departments.

At this stage, you can register with the Engineering Council UK at engineering technician, incorporated engineer and chartered engineer levels. The qualifications leading to these levels are widely available, and employers will often pay for the courses. All require at least two to three years' supervised experience.

For graduates working for smaller organisations, the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IagrE) supervises a scheme that enables you to gain incorporated or chartered engineer status. A new Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) award is now available from the Society for the Environment, and is open to members of the IAgrE involved in environmental work.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is also an important element of all engineering disciplines. The British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association offers a wide range of CPD training opportunities, ranging from professional qualifications in the installation of machinery to management training. You would also attend courses run by manufacturers covering new equipment, new technology and products.

Personal qualities
As an agricultural engineer, you would need a keen interest in and understanding of agriculture, horticulture or forestry and the ways that these industries work. You should have a very practical and logical approach to problem solving and a strong mechanical interest. You would need to be able to analyse problems clearly and then produce workable solutions. In addition to your technical and engineering skills, you would need good communication skills to explain technical issues to others who do not have your expert knowledge.

Looking ahead
As with most engineering disciplines, there is a serious national shortage of people with engineering skills in the land based sector. This - combined with the fact that agricultural engineering is a growing sector - means that there are generally good promotion prospects within both larger multi-national companies and smaller specialist firms, where experienced engineers can move into management positions, often running specific projects or whole departments.

Some agricultural engineers move into marketing and sales, research or teaching. It is also possible to become self-employed and work on a consultancy basis. There are opportunities to work abroad in developing countries and many larger companies may also have manufacturing sites in Europe, the Far East, third world countries or North America.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include agricultural adviser, automobile engineer, manufacturing engineer, mechanical engineer or mining engineer.

Take-home pay
Starting salaries for graduates are usually around £18,000 a year, rising with experience to around £24,000 a year. If you gain incorporated engineer status, your earnings would increase to around £36,000 a year. Chartered engineers may earn £50,000 a year, or more.

Effects
Agricultural engineers usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, although hours can vary depending on seasonal demands, deadlines and whether you are on call.

Working with agricultural machinery can be hazardous, and at least some of your work will involve working outdoors in all weathers. In these circumstances, you would need to wear outdoor protective clothing, a high-visibility vest and hard hat.

Sources of information
Institution of Agricultural Engineers: www.iagre.org
Agricultural Engineers' Association: www.aea.uk.com
Agricultural Development and Advisory Service: www.adas.co.uk
British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association: www.bagma.com
Lantra: www.lantra.co.uk
Society for the Environment: www.socenv.org.uk

CRCI: GB