An exciting opportunity has arisen for an arable/forage operative required on our 130 cow dairy and arable farm.

A family run farm in Church Knowle, South Dorset, are seeking an arable and forage operative to join our small team on our 800 acre mixed enterprise farm. We are a dairy, beef and arable farm, using modern practices on a landscape made up of both traditional and modern buildings, with a focus on grazing animals, producing our own forage and sustainability.

We grow a combination of wheat, barley, oil seed rape, oats and maize on a 5 year ground rotation in order to provide for our livestock. Most machinery operations are done within house, with principally silaging and hedgetrimming outsourced to contractors.

We rear and finish beef cattle, a combination of Aberdeen Angus, Limousin, Blonde Aquetaine, British Blue and Charolais crossed with the dairy cows. These are all being grown on as much of our home grown forage as possible.

This job is a full time role and cottage accommodation will be provided on farm. This is a varied role involving both arable, machinery and livestock so decent previous experience in those areas is crucial. Pesticide application PA1 and PA2 certificates will be required, as well as ATV and pivot steer qualifications. The applicant will be expected to work to a high standard as part of a team as well as working alone.

Duties to include:

•Assisting in the overseeing of our arable enterprises, to include cultivation (plough or mintill), drilling, fertilizing, spraying, slurry and manure application, mowing and baling.

•Seasonal assistance with livestock feeding, bedding and general husbandry in both dairy and beef cattle enterprises.

•General farm maintenance including fencing, groundworks and vehicle maintenance.