Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture SCQF Level 5

The purpose of the Agriculture Modern Apprenticeship is to encourage entry into and progression within
the industry.

The Agriculture industry plays an important role in the land-based and environmental sector and can be
split into the following main work streams; Agricultural Crops and Livestock (pigs, poultry, beef, sheep and
dairy).

Agriculture includes the production and management of primary food groups, supporting Scotland’s food
and drink economy. It includes the environmental management of land for sustainable development. The
main production enterprise of a farm will vary according to its geographic location, which will determine
the soil type and local weather conditions, both important factors in the animal and plant production
process. The main farm types include dairy, beef, sheep, pigs, poultry, vegetables, cereals, root crops and
other field crops. The industry is also involved in non-food groups and industrial crop developments such
as energy crops, crops for paper/materials (eg flax, hemp), specialist oils (eg lavender) and
pharmaceuticals.

Although the sector is diverse it was identified a few years ago that at SCQF Level 5 there was a
requirement for one pathway, called Agriculture, as this would allow for increased flexibility for learners to
adapt the framework around their work. The SCQF Level 6 Modern Apprenticeship has four pathways
which include Agricultural Crop Production, Agriculture Livestock Production, Mixed Farming, and Poultry
Production. This has allowed for increased specialisation in the area in which learners work, reflecting their
jobs at this level.

The industry is highly specialised and can involve working with a vast array of machines, materials and
equipment; from planting stock, working with livestock, working with chemicals through to chainsaws,
harvesters and computer software. A wide range of skills and knowledge is therefore required to meet the
significant variety of jobs and tasks involved.

Around 67,000 people are directly employed in agriculture in Scotland – this represents around 8% of the
rural workforce and means that agriculture is the third largest employer in rural Scotland after the service
and public sectors. It is estimated that a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent
on agriculture.1

Over the last few years there have been changes in rural land use and key policies and priorities being
placed upon specific industries by the Scottish Government because they are critical to the sustainability
of rural economies; food production (agricultural crops) is just one.

Some 80% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, making the industry the single biggest
determinant of the landscape we see around us. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers produce output
worth around £2.9 billion a year and are responsible for much of Scotland’s £5 billion food and drink
exports. The export target for 2017 is £7.1 billion.2

Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture SCQF Level 5 website