Assistant Farm Manager - Bennetts Farms, Worcester
Job Title: Assistant Farm Manager
Responsible to: Farm Manager (Tristan Bennett)
Purpose: Able to run the farm and arable operations
About the Business: Bennetts Farms is a family dairy farm run across two farms, totalling 490 acres where we have a herd of 240 Holstein cows currently milked all year round. We rear our own replacements, plus100-150 beef calves and grow forage maize, lucerne and beet as well as grazing and grass silage.
Our long term plan has been to develop a direct market for our produce, which is progressing well. The farm opened a 520m2 café and events venue in July and started a milk round in 2020 which now has almost 300 regular customers each week.
We are now looking to stream line the dairy farm to lower its cost of production and are looking at transferring to a block calving pattern as well as adding more farming enterprises to supply our milk round and café customers.
We have identified opportunities to grow the business, but are currently restricted by our lack of experienced staff. With two key members of staff approaching retirement we are looking to take on new staff.
Role: We are looking for someone to be a right hand man/woman to the farm manager. Ideally someone who has experience in farming either with arable operations, or with a dairy herd, who is looking for a position where they can take on management responsibilities. They will become familiar with all the day-to-day jobs required on the farm in order to be able to direct staff and cover for annual leave and absence. Our arable manager and youngstock managers are approaching retirement age and looking to start stepping back. We need someone who can begin to take on management responsibility in these areas.
We are keen to add new enterprises to the farm such as a small flock of Christmas birds, and pigs and manage our beef herd more professionally. We are also looking to switch the dairy herd to an autumn block system to make the business work more efficiently and make more of cover crops, grazing and regenerative methods as part of this change. We need someone with the passion and dedication to help drive the business forward.
Responsibilities:
1.To work alongside the herd manager and be able to relief milk the farm’s dairy herd when required.
2.To be able to manage the farm when the farm manager is away on holiday.
3.Assist with field cultivation work, topping etc. whilst maintaining accurate field records.
4.To be able to mix and feed the dairy herd TMR on a relief basis, and regularly mix and feed the TMR for the youngstock.
5.To carry out milk pasteurisation and bottling one day a week while this enterprise is growing until the enterprise is big enough for a full time diary processor. Then to assist in providing holiday and sickness cover as and when required.
6.Participate in grass silaging, either mowing, raking, on the clamp or forage wagon depending on current skills which can be developed with time.
7.To carry out other necessary stock and yard work tasks at the dairy or young stock unit, including mucking out, stock weighing, straw carting etc.
8.To oversee machinery and plant maintenance is being carried out correctly and participate and step in as required.
9.To manage and operate a grazing system of either the dairy herd or the youngstock and beef herd.
10.To assist with producing management figures and occasionally lead weekly staff meetings and quarterly review meetings.
11.Assist with planning and launching new enterprises as the business grows and develops.
12.Be available to work or be on call alternate weekends when required with the option of a day off in the week in lieu.
13.To ensure that livestock units and associated areas are kept in a tidy and orderly state.
14.To maintain safe systems of working.
15.To assist with any demonstrations, trials and research projects that may be undertaken.
16.To promote equal opportunities across all farm operations.
17.Compliance with all quality processes, policies and procedures and data protection legislation.
18.Any other reasonable duties as required by the Principal.
The duties listed above are not intended to be static or all-embracing and the candidate will be expected to adapt to changing circumstances.
Package
Remuneration is dependant on experience, ability and accommodation requirements.
We have a modern self contained 2 bedroom flat built onto the side of the farm house which would be ideal for a single member of staff who wants to be on the farm with all bills covered except for council tax. Alternatively we have a 3 bedroom 16th century cottage 1 mile away from the main farm in Powick which could be made available.
If you have the necessary skills and experience and have the legal right to work in the UK, or UK Settled status, please click on the 'Apply Now' button.
