Field Officer

Name: Helen James

Age: 28

Job title: Field officer

Working hours: 40 hours a week but up to 70 hours a week in spring

Employer: Summit-Quinphos Ltd, other fertiliser companies, seed or animal health companies.


Pay: $40,000 to $60,000 in non-managerial positions

Qualifications needed: Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Commerce in Agriculture, other science-based qualification, computer and written communication skills

Career prospects: Management


Q: What do you do?

A: I usually start the day in my home office preparing for four to five visits to farmer clients. I visit existing clients to do soil or herbage testing or to give the results and fertiliser recommendations.

It takes up to an hour and a half to give results, having a good chat about their goals and the farm's soil history. It takes up to three hours for soil and herb testing, getting samples, bagging, labelling and getting them off to the lab.

Alternately I might be prospecting for new clients, acting on referrals from happy clients, leads from farms that have sold or from our stand at the Mystery Creek Fieldays.

I've been in the job three-and-a-half years, starting after I graduated from Lincoln. When I first started it was a male-oriented industry but there are a lot more women getting into it.

Q: Why did you choose the job?

A: I had an interest in soils at university and I wanted to work outside. I have an interest in organic and sustainable farming and this company had products that fitted with that.

I found I liked working with people and helping them to achieve results. It's important to ensure fertiliser levels on farms are maintained and farmers get good advice because it's their biggest expense. It's important to help them make the right decisions so there is no adverse impact on the environment.

That's becoming more important from a government and council point of view and you can change the fertiliser to cause less impact.

Q: What's the best part of the job?

A: A client won a farm environment award last year and I'd helped with the nutrient budget. I like getting outside and meeting people and learning about different farming systems. It's mostly dairy farms but a few sheep and beef in my area from Te Awamutu to Taupiri and across to Te Aroha.

It's great to see a farm that's been under-developed take off when the right product is used. I remember having a discussion group halfway up Mt Te Aroha once. It was a great view and I thought, "I love this job", though it can be hairy riding up to places.

The worst thing is soil testing in torrential rain, and when you are working from home you have to be self-motivated and get your time management sorted. On Monday mornings the field reps have a phone conference and five of us get together for a monthly meeting.

There's a conference twice a year. You have to keep up with what's happening in the industry and with new research.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: Problem-solving, relationship-building, listening, and understanding Waikato soils. You have to juggle different tasks. It can be very unpredictable - you're dependent on the weather a lot and one minute people don't want to see you then 10 people are ringing up and wanting fertiliser.

It's a juggle keeping everybody happy and you need to have a good relationship with the store staff.

Q: What are your goals?

A: In five years I'd like to be doing the same job but have a family.

Q: What would you tell others?

A: Go and have a day in the field to see what the job entails. You have to show passion for this type of business. It's good if you can show university assignments similar to the job you want to do. I presented farm management assignments I'd done.

Q: Or you might have good sales rep experience and be able to show an understanding of farming systems.

A: A good field rep needs plenty of energy and must enjoy working with people.

It's a job with variety - from office work to outside work, analysing results and problem solving, setting high targets and meeting them.

You should enjoy working alongside farmers ensuring their desired results are achieved.