The study was undertaken in order to inves tigate the importance of job dimensions and individual characteristics in the job satisfaction of samples of New Zealand farmers, farm workers and agricultural students and also to test Hackman and Oldham's Job Diagnostic Survey in a new setting. Questionnaires were given to 201 male subjects from five occupational groups; high country farmers, low country farmers, high country farm workers, low country farm workers and agricultural students. A significant occupation main effect was found among groups, with farmers, and particularly high country farmers, scoring significantly higher on most variables. In comparison with results from previous studies, scores were high for all occupa tional groups. The dimensionality of the jobs was investigated with a moderate degree of inter­ correlation being found. Growth need strength was found to have a definite moderating effect, but not necessarily for the predicted relationships; It was concluded that the model was inadequate in the present context.