Contract harvester

Benefits to primary industries

A lot of farming equipment is very expensive and farmers can’t always afford to own all the different pieces of machinery especially when some of it is only used once or twice a year at sowing or harvest. They employ us to take our machines to those properties and do that work for them.

Where do you live?

I have a small farm right in the middle of the local growing area. I live nice and close to all the farms I do contract work on.

What are some important skills?

It can be a bit stressful around harvest if everyone needs their crops off at the same time, so it is important to have strong communication skills and be able to negotiate with people. Some days we do really long hours so it is important to take regular breaks. We have many regular drivers so we can swap and work in shifts.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I have always enjoyed operating the machines and these new ones are great to drive! I also like that my job means that I can spend a lot of the year on my own property and working on my farm.

What are the main tools of the trade?

My beautiful big header is my favourite piece of machinery. We keep it well maintained so it is ready to do the long hours during harvest.

What training have you had?

I grew up in a big town but I knew I wanted to work on farms when I left school so I did a Certificate III in Agriculture. This gave me a lot of practical experience and I made the most of any opportunities that I got. Eventually my husband and I saved up enough money to buy our own place.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to retire from contracting in about 6 years, but I will still live on and run the farm.