Mixed Farmer
Role lens
Mixed farmers are responsible for managing all aspects of livestock and crop production as a small enterprise or for self-sufficiency.
Mixed farmers oversee all aspects of a small-scale agricultural enterprise or manage a farm for self-sufficiency. This involves planning, planting, and harvesting crops alongside caring for livestock. Daily tasks are varied and can include feeding animals, monitoring crop health, maintaining equipment, managing finances, and ensuring the overall sustainability of the farm. The role demands practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a strong work ethic.
- • Planning crop rotations and livestock breeding programs to maximize yields and efficiency.
- • Operating and maintaining farm machinery, including tractors, combines, and irrigation systems.
- • Monitoring soil health, implementing fertilization strategies, and controlling pests and diseases.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Market-oriented skilled agricultural workers — 27 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and 1 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 3 years.
Where it is regulated, your qualification would need formal recognition before you could practise.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
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Future Outlook for mixed farmer
The outlook for mixed farmer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could mixed farmer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings
- assign duties to agriculture workers
- manage farm supplies
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- cultivate crops for biomass
- harvest crop
- manage crop production
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Agriculture
A typical day as a mixed farmer
09 09:00 · Morning assign duties to agriculture workers
10 10:30 · Mid-morning cultivate crops for biomass
12 12:00 · Midday drive agricultural machines
14 14:00 · Afternoon harvest crop
15 15:30 · Late afternoon manage crop production
17 17:00 · Wrap-up manage farm supplies
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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operate agricultural machinery
Operate motorised agricultural equipment including tractors, balers, sprayers, ploughs, mowers, combines, earthmoving equipment, trucks, and irrigation equipment.
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drive agricultural machines
Drive tractors, forklifts and other vehicles to transport crops as well as to deliver high torque at low speeds. Move equipment in fields and around buildings, making the appropriate adjustments and maneuvers.
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operate farm equipment
Supervise the smooth running of farm equipment which can include high pressure cleaning equipment, heating or air conditioning and monitor the temperature of premises. Make sure tractors and other vehicles are running smoothly. Interpret instructions given by computer programs and report simple operations.
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cultivate crops for biomass
Carry out the cultivation of crops for bio-mass, process of crops for bio-mass.
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manage crop production
Perform crop production duties such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilising, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting. Supervise all steps of the crop production and ranging process, including planting, fertilising, harvesting, herding as well as controlling pests or weeds.
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assign duties to agriculture workers
Assign duties, such as the cultivation, irrigation, or harvesting of crops or plants. Supervise product packaging or grading and equipment maintenance.
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harvest crop
Mow, pick or cut agricultural crop products manually or using appropriate tools and machinery. Taking into account the relevant quality criteria of products, hygiene prescriptions and using the appropriate methods.
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supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings
Ensure that hygiene procedures in agricultural settings are followed, taking into account the regulations of specific areas of action e.q. livestock, plants, local farm products, etc.
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manage farm supplies
Manage farm supplies by taking care of the purchase and storing procedures. Select and purchase supplies and equipment such as seeds, livestock feed, fertilisers and farm machinery.
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manage livestock
Plan production programmes, birth plans, sales, feed purchase orders, materials, equipment, housing, location and stock management. Plan the destruction of relevant animals in humane manner and in accordance with national legislation. Follow businesses requirements and integration into qualitative research and knowledge transfer.
agricultural business management
The business principles behind agricultural production and the marketing of its products.
crop production principles
Principles in growing crops, the natural cycle, nursing of nature, growth conditions and principles of organic and sustainable production. Quality criterias and requirements of seeds, plants and crop.
livestock farming systems
The allocation of farming resources in relation to livestock farming and husbandry systems.
livestock reproduction
The natural and artificial reproduction techniques, gestation periods and birthing for livestock.
sustainable agricultural production principles
Principles and conditions of organic and sustainable agricultural production.
agroecology
The study and application of ecological and agronomic concepts and principles to agricultural production systems.
dairy animal production
The life cycles of the animal in relation to milk production and the technical and economical aspects of milk production.
e-agriculture
The design and application of innovative ICT solutions in agriculture, horticulture, viniculture, fishery, forestry and livestock management.
- agronomical production principles
- environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry
- health and safety regulations
- agritourism
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Scan to continue on mobilePath to become a mixed farmer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Upper secondary education
Regulated in 2 countries on record. Minimum EQF 3–4, depending on the country.
Reflects the EU regulated-professions database. Not legal advice — confirm requirements with the relevant national authority before relying on this for a career or immigration decision.
Real programmes leading to this occupation, by country.
History A, From farming- to service society: Sweden`s social and economic history
Agriculture and Rural Management (BSc)
Programinriktat val; Naturbruk, mot gymnasieprogram, lärlingsliknande, inriktning Lantbruk
Landwirtschaftliche Berufsfachschule zweites und drittes Ausbildungsjahr
Einjährige Berufsfachschule (BFS) Fachrichtung Landwirtschaft
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does mixed farmer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What skills are most important for a mixed farmer?
- Beyond practical farming skills, success requires strong organizational abilities, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to changing weather conditions and market demands. Understanding basic business principles and financial management is also crucial, especially for those operating independently.
- Is it common to be self-employed as a mixed farmer?
- While many mixed farmers find employment on larger farms, self-employment is a common pathway. It offers greater autonomy but also requires strong business acumen and the ability to manage all aspects of the operation.
- What are the typical working conditions like?
- Expect long hours, often outdoors in varying weather conditions. Physical stamina is essential, and the work can be demanding. However, the rewards of producing food and connecting with nature can be significant.
- Is there a shortage of Mixed Farmer in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 5 of the 9 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and 1 more. Netherlands has reported one for 3 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- How much does Mixed Farmer pay in the United States?
- $87,980 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $62,740 to $111,460. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Is Mixed Farmer a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 2 European countries: Slovakia, Hungary. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 3. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated September 20, 2026 About our data