Tillage Farm Manager

As a Tillage Farm Manager you plan and oversee the full growing cycle of cereal and break crops such as wheat, barley, oilseed rape and beans, typically on large tillage enterprises in the south and east of Ireland. You make key decisions on crop rotations, seed selection, fertiliser applications, and pest and disease control programmes, always working within the Nitrates Action Programme regulations and cross-compliance requirements. Day-to-day responsibilities include operating and maintaining farm machinery, managing grain storage facilities, and keeping accurate field and financial records. You liaise closely with Teagasc advisors, grain merchants, agronomists, and contractors to ensure targets for yield and profitability are met. You may manage a small team of farm operatives and seasonal workers, taking responsibility for their health and safety on site.

A strong Leaving Certificate with subjects such as Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths provides a solid foundation for entry into tillage farm management. The most direct route is an NFQ Level 7 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, offered at institutions such as Munster Technological University, Atlantic Technological University, or through Teagasc colleges in partnership with technological universities. An NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor in Agricultural Science is available at UCD and University College Dublin, which can open doors to more senior and technical roles. Alternatively, a QQI Level 5 or Level 6 FET award in Agriculture, available through Teagasc colleges and ETBs, can provide an entry route into farm work, with progression to degree level possible over time. Teagasc also offers the Green Certificate, a recognised industry qualification for farm managers, which satisfies the educational requirement for certain farm schemes and supports SOLAS apprenticeship pathways in agri-food.