[First Draft] Farming

[Leon Kraus]

Skill Name
Farming/Agriculture

Short Description
Farming refers to the production of food and goods through farming. Farming was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants (i.e. crops) creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and stratified societies.

Background
Since its development agriculture has expanded vastly in geographical coverage and yields. Throughout this expansion, new technologies and new crops were integrated. Agricultural practices such as irrigation, crop rotation, fertilizers, and pesticides were developed long ago, but have made great strides in the past century. The history of agriculture has played a major role in human history, as agricultural progress has been a crucial factor in worldwide socio-economic change. Wealth-concentration and militaristic specializations rarely seen in hunter-gatherer cultures are commonplace in societies which practice agriculture. So, too, are arts such as epic literature and monumental architecture, as well as codified legal systems. When farmers became capable of producing food beyond the needs of their own families, others in their society were freed to devote themselves to projects other than food acquisition.

Tools of the Trade
Shovels
Pickaxes
Hand Planes
Nails
Hammers
Saws
Plows
Donkeys,Asses,Mules,Horses,Bulls,Oxes,Cows
Screwdrivers
Screws
Axes

Skill Tree
Unskilled: Even farming can be done by the unskilled. Some of the time it is a kid working with his family to bring in the bread or as punishment for doing something bad.

Techniques Learned:
* Types of Animals
* Types of Tools

Novice: The Farmer is beginning to learn how to use tools for the job and know basic breeds of animals like Pecoris and Horses. He is also learning the terminology of certain animals.

The Farmer should now be able to do most things around the farm with some skill but still cannot be trusted to do the harder stuff. The Novice Farmer is better off planting a garden than living on a farm.

Techniques Learned
* Habitat Manipulation: The novice farmer knows the principles of creating a good environmnet for their stock and will have a good supply of water, feed and shelter.
* Breeds: The Novice Farmer learns about breeds of animals such as Pecoris and Horses.
* Husbandry: Although she may try to help during the birthing seasons and knows how to plant and raise seeds, the Novice farmer largely relies on nature for their production and raising of stock.
* Stock Management: The novice farmer uses fencing to pen his stock and can identify a weed or other unwanted organism.
* Market: The novice farmer follows the market and because he has little influence larger takes whatever the buyers are offering. His harvest is not selective and so his offering is of mixed quality

Apprentice: The Farmer is now a good enough farmer to own and run a small plot of land by himself. The Apprentice Farmer will now start studying the anatomy of Pecoris or Horses for us on the farm.

The Apprentice Farmer is able to lead a group of 2-3 helpers on a farm from 50 acres to 75 acres and 4-5 helpers for 50-100 Acres. The Apprentice Farmer also learns how to construct basic fences such as the Holed Fence or the Timber Fence.

Techniques Learned
* Habitat Manipulation:
* Husbandry:
* Stock Management:
* Market:

Cattle Rancher I
* Beginner Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Beginner Pecoris Anatomy: The Farmer learns more about the Pecoris's anatomy.
* Beginner Pecoris Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each Pecoris breed and how to tell between them.
* (Optional)Beginner Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Pecoris to stop it from getting away.
* (Optional)Basic Horseback Riding: The Master Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do cattle drives and such.
* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Horse Breeder I
* Beginner Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Beginner Horse Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of horse and how to tell between them.
* Beginner Horse Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Horse's anatomy.
* (Optional)Beginner Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Horse to stop it from getting away.
* (Optional)Basic Horseback Riding: The Master Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do Drive horses
* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Chicken Farmer I
* Beginner Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Beginner Chicken Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Chickens and how to tell between them.
* Beginner Chicken Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Chicken's anatomy.* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Pig Farmer I
* Beginner Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Beginner Pig Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Pig and how to tell between them.
* Beginner Pig Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Pig's anatomy.
* Advanced Fencing: The Master Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Pigs inside and predators out.
* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Goat Herder I
* Beginner Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Beginner Goat Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of goat and how to tell between them.
* Beginner Goat Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Goat's anatomy.
* (Optional)Beginner Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a goat to stop it from getting away.
* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Crop Farmer
* Beginner Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Beginner plant Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each type of plant and their uses.
* Advanced Plant Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the anatomy of Plants.
* Advanced Sowing: The Master Farmer learns how to best plant his seeds to increase the plant growth and survivability.
* Beginner Reaping: The Master Farmer Learns how to Reap his Crop to increase the profit and decrease the chance of damaging the crop when they do so.

Journeyman: The Journeyman Farmer probably owns his/her own farm by now and if not he/she should be expected to get one before they can continue their training. They can now effectively run at least a 100 acre farm with only a few helpers. From hereon out all sub skills will come from the farmer's selected field.

Once the the Journeyman Farmer gets along with his training he will need to start specializing in a specific area such as Cattle Rancher, Horse Breeder, Chicken Farmer, Goat Farmer, and the Jack-of-all-Farmers.

Techniques Learned:
Cattle Rancher II
* Intermediate Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Intermediate Pecoris Anatomy: The Farmer learns more about the Pecoris's anatomy.
* Intermediate Pecoris Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each Pecoris breed and how to tell between them.
* (Optional)Intermediate Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Pecoris to stop it from getting away.
* (Optional)L2 Horseback Riding: The Master Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do cattle drives and such.


Horse Breeder II
* Intermediate Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Intermediate Horse Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of horse and how to tell between them.
* Intermediate Horse Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Horse's anatomy.
* (Optional)Intermediate Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Horse to stop it from getting away.
* (Optional)L2 Horseback Riding: The Master Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do Drive horses
* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Chicken Farmer II
* Intermediate Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Intermediate Chicken Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Chickens and how to tell between them.
* Intermediate Chicken Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Chicken's anatomy.* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Pig Farmer II
* Intermediate Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Intermediate Pig Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Pig and how to tell between them.
* Intermediate Pig Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Pig's anatomy.
* Master Fencing: The Master Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Pigs inside and predators out.
* Master Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Goat Herder II
* Intermediate Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Intermediate Goat Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of goat and how to tell between them.
* Intermediate Goat Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Goat's anatomy.
* (Optional)Intermediate Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a goat to stop it from getting away.
* Master Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Crop Farmer II
* Intermediate Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Intermediate plant Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each type of plant and their uses.
* Intermediate Reaping: The Master Farmer Learns how to Reap his Crop to increase the profit and decrease the chance of damaging the crop when they do so.

Master: Once the Journeyman Farmer picks his specialty he will become a Master Farmer and learn what is needed for his Area of Expertise be it Cattle Rancher, Horse Breeder, Goat Farmer, Chicken Farmer, Pig Farmer, or Crop raiser.

A farmer can raise stuff other than his specialty but he will know more about his specialty area thus increasing the chance for survivability.

Techniques Learned:
Cattle Rancher III
* Master Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Master Pecoris Anatomy: The Farmer learns more about the Pecoris's anatomy.
* Master Pecoris Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each Pecoris breed and how to tell between them.
* (Optional)Master Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Pecoris to stop it from getting away. The Master Farmer's rope seem to always hit the mark.
* (Optional)L3 Horseback Riding: The Master Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do cattle drives and such.
* Grandmaster Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Horse Breeder III
* Master Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Master Horse Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of horse and how to tell between them.
* Master Horse Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Horse's anatomy.
* (Optional)Master Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Horse to stop it from getting away.
* (Optional)L3 Horseback Riding: The Master Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do Drive horses
* Grandmaster Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Chicken Farmer III
* Master Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Master Chicken Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Chickens and how to tell between them.
* Master Chicken Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Chicken's anatomy.* Advanced Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Pig Farmer III
* Master Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Master Pig Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Pig and how to tell between them.
* Master Pig Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Pig's anatomy.
* Master Fencing: The Master Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Pigs inside and predators out.
* Master Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Goat Herder
* Master Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Master Goat Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of goat and how to tell between them.
* Master Goat Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Goat's anatomy.
* (Optional)Master Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a goat to stop it from getting away.
* Master Animal Husbandry: The Master Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals


Crop Farmer III
* Master Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Master plant Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each type of plant and their uses.
* Master Plant Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the anatomy of Plants.
* Master Sowing: The Master Farmer learns how to best plant his seeds to increase the plant growth and survivability.
* Master Reaping: The Master Farmer Learns how to Reap his Crop to increase the profit and decrease the chance of damaging the crop when they do so.

Grandmaster: The Grandmaster has been a farmer pretty much as long as he has lived and with his age he has gained the respect of most of his fellow townspeople and the younger farming generation. He is the best of the best of farmers. His crops seem to never die from disease and his animals seem to never die from pregnancy and disease. People come to him for advice on their crop and their animals.

As someone becomes a grandmaster he learns about advanced anatomy and advanced lore from their general area of specialization. They also learn advance meteorology to detect when a storm is coming.

Techniques Learned:

Cattle Rancher IV
* Grandaster Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Grandaster Pecoris Anatomy: The Farmer learns more about the Pecoris's anatomy.
* Grandmaster Roping: The Master Farmer learns how to rope a Pecoris to stop it from getting away. The Master Farmer's rope seem to always hit the mark.
* Grandmaster Pecoris Lore: The Grandaster Farmer learns the history of each Pecoris breed and how to tell between them.
* L4 Horseback Riding: The Grandmaster Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do cattle drives and such.
* Grandmaster Fencing: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Pecoris inside and predators out.

Horse Breeder IV
*Grandmaster Meteorology: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Grandmaster Horse Lore: The Grandmaster Farmer learns the history of each breed of horse and how to tell between them.
* Grandmaster Horse Anatomy: The Grandmaster Farmer learns more about the Horse's anatomy.
* (Optional)Grandmaster Roping: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to rope a Horse to stop it from getting away.
* (Optional)L4 Horseback Riding: The Grandmaster Farmer may need to know how to ride a horse if he wants to do Drive horses
* Grandmaster Fencing: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Horses inside and predators out.

Chicken Farmer IV
* Grandmaster Meteorology: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Grandmaster Chicken Lore: The grandmaster Farmer learns the history of each breed of Chickens and how to tell between them.
* Grandmaster Chicken Anatomy: The Grandmaster Farmer learns more about the Chicken's anatomy.
* Grandmaster Fencing: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Chickens inside and predators out.

Pig Farmer IV
* Grandmaster Meteorology: The Master Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Grandmaster Pig Lore: The Master Farmer learns the history of each breed of Pig and how to tell between them.
* Grandmaster Pig Anatomy: The Master Farmer learns more about the Pig's anatomy.
* Grandmaster Fencing: The Master Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Pigs inside and predators out.
* Grandmaster Animal Husbandry: The grandmaster Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals

Goat Herder IV
* Grandmaster Meteorology: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Grandmaster Goat Lore: The Grandmaster Farmer learns the history of each breed of goat and how to tell between them.
* Grandmaster Goat Anatomy: The Grandmaster Farmer learns more about the Goat's anatomy.
* (Optional)Grandmaster Roping: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to rope a goat to stop it from getting away.
* Grandmaster Animal Husbandry: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to increase the survivability rate of animals
* Grandmaster Fencing: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Goats inside and predators out.


Crop Farmer IV
* Grandmaster Meteorology: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to tell the difference between thunder clouds and rain clouds and when to put his animals up for their safety.
* Grandmaster plant Lore: The Grandmaster Farmer learns the history of each type of plant and their uses.
* Grandmaster Plant Anatomy: The Grandmaster Farmer learns more about the anatomy of Plants.
* Grandmaster Sowing: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to best plant his seeds to increase the plant growth and survivability.
* Grandmaster Reaping: The Grandmaster Farmer Learns how to Reap his Crop to increase the profit and decrease the chance of damaging the crop when they do so.
* Grandmaster Fencing: The Grandmaster Farmer learns how to build fences to keep Crops inside and predators out.

Example Products: Beef, Pecoris Milk, Goat Milk, Cheese, Butter, Crops, Wine, Beer, Leather, Mounts, Draught Animals, Fences, Poultry.

WILL UPDATE THE REST LATER TODAY OR TOMORROW.

[Xeres Lyonythas]

Good start But perhaps the level 1 farmer can work on land as well. Most of the NPC farmhands, for example, are level one farmers.

P.S. this is Straylor by the way.

[Orbril]

My inlaws are farmers and my son was essentially raised by them until the age of 7 (he's now 9)

he would regularily amaze me with its knowledge of farming practice, his morning chores involved feeding the chooks, dogs, horse and pigs before helping to feed out to the cattle, he can name a variety of breeds, helps to round up sheep during docking, tries to rouseys during shearing, pulls ragwort during hay making, can hitch a plow (with effort) and he has his own vegetable garden - I suppose that he must be a Novice Farmer

(me I'm totally unskilled at farming and largely incompetent too)

however I'll wait for the rest oof the write up to comment further - it'll be interesting to see what Level 5 Farming involves...

[Leon Kraus]

Stray: The average NPC is lvl 2 though a lvl 1 can work some land but with some difficulty unlike lvl 2 or above.

Orbril: Your son is probably a Novice or Apprentice.

[Amber Brightwing]

The Techniques Learned at Journeyman should totally be at novice. These are things they you need to be shown once and you can do them. Fencing you can figure out on your own even. The hard part of farming is know what crops to sow when to sow and when to reap it again. Perhaps introduce crop rotation at later levels? For more 'advanced' cattle farmers perhaps processing their goods could come into play? How to make cheese or slaughter an animal and such?

[Connor O'Riley]

Wrong Account.

[Leon Kraus]

Do you mean apprentice because a Novice wouldn't learn advanced advanced anatomy until they had to pick a specialty and then they learn the anatomy of their specialty. It also takes some skill to build a fence that can withstand the weight of Cattle or horses. The sowing isn't the hardest part for a farmer. A farmer usually wouldn't slaughter his animals unless he had a smoke house or he intended to use it all before it spoiled. He would take the animal to a slaughterhouse or the market to do it unless it was a pig then they would take whatever was edible off it and throw the rest out. Crop Rotation and Irrigation will be in the master technique set. The making of the cheese and the butter will be incorporated at a later level also. or I may add it to journeyman. Most of the things at journeyman belong there like Advanced Anatomy, Advanced Feeding, and Specialty would be journeyman level. Animal Husbandry could probably go to apprentice.

I've been on a farm since i was the wee age of 5 and stayed on the same farm till I was 14. I would then go back periodically go back every summer and break I had in school. I didn't learn the difference of plows till i could hitch one and build a fence. As you can't keep cattle out of your crop if you don't have a fence to keep em out.

[Amber Brightwing]

Well, I've spend some time on a farm too My grandfather slaughtered chickens, rabbits (both which can easily be made into sizeable portions) and pigs (which were processed right away). Everything was for personal use now that I think of it though. If you're selling in a city a slaughterhouse would be more logical. I believe he slaughtered his own cows too up to some point, but I only ever saw the equipment for that

Anyway levels should be roughly the following (IMHO):
L0 - farmhand
L1 - farmhand/farmer that gets by, but barely
L2 - your average farmer
L3 - best farmer for miles
L4 - best farmer of the province
L5 - best farmer of the kingdom

The use of irrigation and crop cycling should be lower IMHO. Later levels should mostly become better at using it. And I didn't mean that sowing was the hardest, rather to know when to do so. Same for reaping. The longer your crops stay on the field, the longer they'll ripen/grow, but the bigger the chance storm/disease/bugs/... can mess up your harvest. Without modern day weather forecast this should be tricky to perfect IMHO.

[Leon Kraus]

The longer your crops stay on the field, the longer they'll ripen/grow, but the bigger the chance storm/disease/bugs/... can mess up your harvest

But with druids they can help to keep disease and bugs away. I prefer the look at the sky and if you see storm clouds hurry up and lock everything up.

The use of irrigation and crop cycling should be lower IMHO. Later levels should mostly become better at using it.

I get what your saying here and I will add this after I finish typing this . The farm i grew up on i know own and I raise cattle, a few crops, chicken, ducks, horses, pigs, geese, etc. Basically all of the important stuff. I still do my own fences and those dang Cows keep finding a way into my crop.

Without modern day weather forecast this should be tricky to perfect IMHO.

Yea. That is true. But wouldn't druids be able to help say if there was a storm coming?

L0 - farmhand
L1 - farmhand/farmer that gets by, but barely
L2 - your average farmer
L3 - best farmer for miles
L4 - best farmer of the province
L5 - best farmer of the kingdom

I believe I believe I did that or tried to do that. L4 L5 will get more specialized skills based on what they choose as their specialty. Each Specialty will have four new skills each level.

Keep up the good ideas.

[Duvel]

Magic exists, but it is not common. You shouldn't take druids into account when making any of this.

And if you see a big storm coming you're too late to harvest your crops and save them from being beaten down (which heavy wind and rain can do). Harvest easily takes a week or more

[Leon Kraus]

The harvest depends on the size of the crop you have planted. It can take from a few days to 3 weeks to get it all if you have a big plot. It wouldn't be that hard to find a druid to give your crops some sort of spell/blessing type thing to keep the bugs and diseases away.

[Xeres Lyonythas]

It would be hard actually. Unless you were in Trysvale or Candaceburg. Those plots of lands were blessed by Druids a while ago. At least that's what we're thought to believe

Again, do not take magic into consideration. Assume that there is no magic involved at all. And I think you should poke Snake Eye / xGM fetch about the farm hand issue. From what I've seen and RP'd, farmhands are level 1. Farmers, as in independent workers with their own farms, are level 2. Basically what Amber noted above me That makes the best sense.

But you are doing a great job so far, mates. A fwe more drafts and we should be able to push this for approval

As for skills:

basic planting, harvesting, maintenance, animal care should be at level 1. They can do everything on the farm, just not professionally. They make mistakes, take a while longer, etc.

Level 2 farmers should be able to use tools / animals etc to become more efficient / effective with their usual work / chores around the farm. Using a plow hitched onto a horse, for example; or learning to best determine how the weather will act.

Level 3 farmers are able to manage multiple farms without sacrificing effectiveness and efficiency. They would also be considered experts in their communities. They can actively predict weather conditions a cycle or more in advance; and determine soil conditions; they are so in tune with farming that their activity on the farm may boost crop size and lessen the time for crops to mature.

Level 4 farmers are famous in almost all respects. Their crops are the best of the best, and their farms never seem to need rest between harvests. They are familiar with various fertilizer types and methods and can make use of all farming methods / tools extremely well. Their weather predictions can also span over several cycles now. Again, their farming techniques are so fabulous that their crops are much larger and take even less time to grow and mature.

Level 5 farmers are legendary. Along with all the 'bonuses', they can now seemingly communicate with their crops and farm animals. They can tell when animals are sick, or if his crops are somehow lacking something. Their fertilizers are world class and seem to revive even dead crops. Their weather predictions can span seasons and their crops are magnificently delicious, plump, and seemingly mature in no time at all. Usually, these farmers provide their services to the Royal Family who can afford their astronomical prices.

As for Progression:

I think that farming is a master-to-apprentice type of job. And it takes time. Lots of time. The farmer must experience the trade rather than just learn its theory. This is why Level 5 farmers are usually old men who's been farming all of their lives. Level 0 or 1 farmer hand are typically young men who want to better themselves.

For the PC, this means several Eras of active role playing. And this has to be their primary occupation. I say this because I can never see Straylor getting higher than Level 2 even though he owns farmlands. He was never a farmer for long, see? But if another PC works as a farmer for several eras In-Character, then it only makes sense that he gets better even without formal training. Some things on the farm, you just get or figure out.

BUT for 'special tricks and abilities' perhaps the farmer will need a mentor for that. Otherwise getting better at what you do is almost a given after several years of working.

[Leon Kraus]

Yea but to actually know what to get you have to have someone show you a few times before it gets stuck in your head. That is how I was taught and how most people were taught. Simple things like feeding and watering wouldn't require more than once to be told what to do. The rest would require some teaching for the proper technique and such. Don't you agree?

[Orbril]

Originally Posted by Amber Brightwing

Without modern day weather forecast this should be tricky to perfect IMHO.

not entirely true

The old (pre-scientific) weather forcasting techniques work for near events (a couple of days out), modern science simply makes long term prediction (weeks ahead) better but is still essentially a best guess

[Leon Kraus]

Orbril is right to some extent and the First Draft is finished and ready for more ideas so it can change.