Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Agriculture

The Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Agriculture gives you the opportunity to study a range of specialist technical practical skills and knowledge that build upon the core skills of safe working practices in farming, livestock husbandry, crop production and operating agricultural machinery as well as business skills. You can then learn further specialist skills such as farm livestock health and nutrition, agricultural workshop practices, forage crop production or farm habitat management.

Compulsory topics include:

• Safe working in agriculture
• Machinery operations
• Agricultural crop production
• Livestock husbandry
• Plant and soil science
• Estate maintenance skills

Learners will also be able to choose additional optional topics, including:

• Forage crop production
• Root crop production
• Pollution and waste control
• Habitat management
• Dairy, sheep, beef, poultry and pig production
• Spreaders and sprayers
• Business planning and management
• Workshop practice
• Transmission systems
• Repairing cultivation and harvesting machinery

You can choose to specialise in:

• Livestock
• Arable
• Farm mechanisation

This could lead to the following employment opportunities:

• Assistant stockperson
• Herdsperson
• Shepherd
• Dairyman
• Contractor (livestock)
• Crop store assistant
• Contractor (crops)
• Assistant head tractor driver
• Sprayer operator
• Machinery operator
• Farm mechanic

This is typically a one year full-time course or you could take it alongside other Level 3 qualification such as A levels over a two year period. It equips you with the core skills and knowledge to enter employment in the agricultural industry and enables progression to a broader range of options than the Technical Certificate. You would take this qualification if you really enjoy the hands-on practical aspects of working on a farm.

You may wish to progress onto an Advanced Apprenticeship in Agriculture which allows you to combine working on a farm with typically attending one day a week at college or with a training provider. Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto further learning within a Higher Education Institution. You could take a course such as:

• Agriculture Foundation Degree
• BSc (Hons) Agriculture
• Agriculture with Animal Science BSc (Hons) Degree
• Agriculture with Business Studies BSc (Hons) Degree
• Agriculture with Countryside Management BSc (Hons) Degree

For more information, read the Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Agriculture Qualification Handbook

Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Agriculture website