UK arable farming is the backbone of domestic food production. Wheat, barley, oilseed rape, oats, pulses and specialist crops cover millions of hectares and feed a supply chain that runs from the seed breeder through the grain merchant to the mill and the supermarket shelf. The people who keep that chain functioning, from agronomists and seed technologists to grain traders and crop science researchers, are specialists. And like most agricultural specialists, they are in short supply.
Agricultural Recruitment Specialists (AgriRS) has been placing people across crops, seeds and grains for over 13 years. We recruit for seed companies, grain merchants, cooperatives, agricultural merchants, arable farms and crop science businesses across the UK, connecting candidates at every level to the roles that suit them.
This guide covers the jobs available across the sector, the range of businesses we recruit for and how we can help, whether you are looking to hire or looking for work.
In Focus: The UK Crops, Seeds & Grains Sector
The UK seeds market was valued at approximately £1.1 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow at around 4 to 5% annually through to 2034, driven by investment in hybrid varieties, seed treatments, disease-resistant genetics and the growing adoption of precision agriculture. Wheat remains the UK's dominant arable crop, with annual production typically in the range of 14 to 15 million tonnes, while barley, oilseed rape, oats and pulses collectively add several million more. The UK is both a producer and a significant importer of seeds and grain, with Ireland, the Netherlands and France among the principal trading partners.
The regulatory environment is shifting. In 2024 the UK government reinforced its post-Brexit gene editing policy, easing the regulatory pathway for precision-bred crop varieties. Post-Brexit border controls have introduced new complexity into seed import logistics: vegetable growers reported delays of up to six weeks on seed imports from the EU in 2024 due to border testing requirements, disrupting planting schedules and propagation programmes. For grain traders and merchants, 2025 was a challenging year on margins. Feed wheat and milling wheat prices remained under sustained pressure and oilseed rape stood out as one of the few relatively stronger commodity markets. These commercial pressures don’t reduce the need for good people; if anything, they increase it.
Attracting candidates into crops, seeds and grains roles is consistently difficult. A grain trader who understands commodity risk, knows the farm side of the business and can manage client relationships across a diverse grower base doesn’t appear on general job boards. Seed technologists, plant breeders, crop scientists and regional sales managers in this space are almost always in employment and are not actively looking. Getting to them takes relationships built over years, not a job advert placed overnight.
Careers in Crops, Seeds & Grains: From the Trial Plot to the Trading Desk
Jobs across this sector span field-based advisory and technical roles, commercial sales and trading positions, scientific research careers and senior management. Here is a snapshot of what we place.
Field, Advisory and Technical Roles
Agronomist/Crops Agronomist: Advising arable farmers on variety selection, crop protection, nutrition and agronomy programmes, typically BASIS and/or FACTS qualified.
Seed Technologist/Seeds Technical Adviser: Providing technical support on seed variety performance, seed treatment, germination and crop establishment to merchant, farmer or breeder customers.
Plant Breeder/Crop Geneticist: Developing new crop varieties through conventional or precision breeding techniques, focused on traits including yield, disease resistance, protein content and environmental adaptation.
Crop Trials Manager/Field Trials Coordinator: Designing, managing and interpreting field trial programmes to evaluate variety or input performance, often working for a seed company or research organisation.
Arable Farm Manager: Managing large-scale arable or combinable crops enterprises, covering agronomy, machinery, labour and financial performance.
Precision Arable Specialist: Applying GPS mapping, variable rate technology and satellite imagery to optimise input use and yield performance across arable enterprises.
Commercial, Trading and Senior Roles
Grain Trader/Grain Merchant: Buying and selling cereals, oilseeds and pulses on behalf of a merchant, cooperative or trading business, managing contracts, logistics and price risk.
Seed Sales Manager/Area Seeds Manager: Selling seed varieties, seed treatments and associated products to farmers and agricultural merchants across a defined territory.
Area Sales Manager (Crops/Arable Inputs): Commercial role covering crop nutrition, crop protection or arable input products within a manufacturer, distributor or merchant business.
Grain Procurement Manager: Managing the sourcing and buying of cereals and oilseeds for a miller, compounder, distillery or food manufacturer.
Crop Science Business Development Manager: Developing new commercial opportunities for a seeds, agronomy or crop science business, including new market segments and key account development.
Product Manager/Portfolio Manager (Seeds/Crop Protection): Managing the commercial positioning, pricing and launch of a seed variety range or crop input portfolio within a manufacturer or distributor.
National/Regional Sales Manager (Arable): Leading a field sales team within a seed company, merchant or arable input business, with responsibility for revenue targets and team performance.
The Crops, Seeds & Grains Sector: What We Cover
Our recruitment covers the full supply chain from seed breeding and agronomy through to grain trading, milling and crop science.
Seed Breeding and Genetics: Plant breeders, geneticists and crop scientists developing the next generation of arable and horticultural varieties.
Seed Production and Technology: Technical and commercial roles within seed production, multiplication, treatment and distribution businesses.
Crop Agronomy and Advisory: BASIS and FACTS-qualified agronomists and crop consultants advising arable farmers across all combinable and specialist crop types.
Grain Trading and Merchandising: Commodity traders, area managers and merchant professionals buying and selling grain, oilseeds and pulses across UK and export markets.
Grain Storage and Handling: Operational and technical roles within grain storage facilities, driers and intake operations.
Grain Milling and Processing: Production, quality and management roles within flour mills, oat mills, malting plants and feed compounders using UK-grown grain.
Arable Input Sales: Commercial roles selling seeds, fertilisers, crop protection products and specialist inputs through merchant, cooperative and direct-to-farm channels.
Crop Science Research and Development: Scientific and technical roles in crop improvement, disease research, precision nutrition and agri-science organisations.
Agricultural Merchants and Cooperatives: Management, commercial and operational roles within the merchant and cooperative businesses that serve the arable sector.
Combinable Crops Procurement: Sourcing and buying roles within food manufacturers, distillers, brewers, compounders and maltsters purchasing UK-grown grain.
For Employers
What to Expect from Crops, Seeds and Grains Recruitment
The arable supply chain is a small world. Experienced grain traders, technically credible seed sales managers and senior agronomists all know each other, and many have spent their whole careers within the same network of merchants, cooperatives and suppliers. That tight-knit character is part of what makes this sector rewarding to work in, and part of what makes it genuinely difficult to recruit for. The best candidates are known, employed and not actively looking. You won’t find them by posting a job advert.
We have been building relationships across crops, seeds and grains for over 13 years, and our database reflects the depth of those connections. Whether you need a grain trader for a regional merchant desk, a seeds technical specialist for a national business or a senior commercial director for a crop science company, we know who the right candidates are and how to approach them. We will give you a straight view of the candidate market from the start and a realistic picture of what it takes to secure the right person.
How We Work with Employers
Contingency search: Proactive candidate searches across our network, with targeted advertising where appropriate. No placement, no fee.
Executive search and headhunting: For senior, specialist or hard-to-fill roles where the right candidate needs to be approached directly. 100% success rate since 2012.
Contract and temporary placements: For harvest cover, project-based needs or interim commercial support.
Market intelligence: Salary benchmarking, candidate availability and competitor insight to inform your hiring approach.
Candidate profiling: Psychometric and skills assessments to support your final hiring decision.
Whether you are an agronomist considering a move into seed sales, a grain trader ready for a new desk, a plant scientist exploring commercial opportunities, or an arable farm manager looking for your next enterprise, we work with businesses across the sector that are actively looking for people like you. Many of the roles we fill are never publicly advertised.
What We Offer Candidates
Free and confidential service: No cost to register, and your details are handled with complete discretion.
Access to unadvertised roles: A significant proportion of the positions we fill never reach a job board.
CV and interview support: Practical guidance to help you present yourself well at every stage.
UK-wide coverage: Vacancies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Career guidance: Whether you know exactly what you want or are still weighing up your options, we will give you an honest view of the market.
3 Quick Wins on Our Site
Get help with your application using our candidate tips.
Stay in the Loop with Crops, Seeds & Grains Sector Insights
Our AgriCulture Live podcast features conversations with the people driving change in UK arable farming, crop science and the wider agricultural supply chain. For market commentary, career insight and hiring guidance, our blog covers the topics that matter most to people working in crops, seeds and grains:
Speak to Our Crops, Seeds and Grains Recruitment Team
If you are a seed company, grain merchant, cooperative, agricultural merchant or crop science business looking to fill a role, the first step is to tell us what you need. We know the candidate market in this sector well and we will give you an honest view from the start: who is available, what a competitive package looks like, and how long a realistic search will take. You can submit a vacancy here
If you are looking for your next role in crops, seeds or grains, get in touch with a brief outline of your background and what you are looking for. Email info@agriRS.co.uk or call 01905 345 155. Many of the roles we fill are never advertised, so talking to us directly is often the fastest way to find out what is available.
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