AGRICULTURAL CAREERS

AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE

• Approximately 22 Million People are Employed in an Agricultural Career

• Nearly 1 out of every 6 jobs!• 400Thousand people are needed each year to fill positions in the Agriculture Industry

• Only 100 Thousand jobs are being filled each year by trained people

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

1. Production Agriculture2. Communication and Education Specialist

Careers3. Managers and Financial Specialist4. Marketing, Merchandising, & Sales

Representatives5. Scientists, Engineers and Related Specialists

PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE

• 1/5 of All Agricultural Careers• Production Agriculture is defined as Farming and Ranching.

• Involves the growing and marketing of field crops and livestock

• U.S. Farmers produce enough food and fiber to feed 135 people, large farm operations can feed over 200 people.

TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION JOBS

• Cattle Rancher• Diversified Crop Farmer• Diversified Livestock Producer• Farm Manager

CATTLE RANCHER

Selects, purchases, and raises cattle on leased or owned land for purpose of selling offspring

Knowledge Requirements:Cattle industry including cattle prices,

quality and markets. Nutrition, reproduction, and animal health are also important areas.

DIVERSIFIED CROP FARMER

• Crop Farming workers plant, cultivate and harvest crops of fruits, fiber, grains, or vegetables.

• May raise one specialty crop or diversified crops, they often produce several different types of crops simultaneously

DIVERSIFIED LIVESTOCK PRODUCER

• Diversified livestock producers breed and raise livestock of various types.

• Skills Necessary:• Organized• Computer skills and basic business knowledge• Willing to work independently• Enjoy working outside in all kinds of weather

FARM MANAGER• Organize and Analyze farm resources,

finances, and problems• Develop solutions and plans for future

farm enterprises• Make daily farming decisions related to

crops, machinery and labor

COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION SPECIALIST CAREERS

•Agriculture Teacher•Agricultural Extension Specialist

•Agricultural Journalist•Agricultural Lawyer

AGRICULTURE TEACHER

• Develop program, curriculum and activities related to agriculture for youth adults and graduates

• Job Availability: Steady• Working Conditions: Indoors in classroom,

outdoors with experiments and hands-on activities

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SPECIALIST

• Organize and conducts cooperative extension program to advise and instruct farmers and individuals engaged in agribusiness applications of agricultural research findings.

• Skill Necessary: • Strong interest in helping others• Excellent communication skills

AGRICULTURAL LAWYER

• Focus on the law as it applies to the Agricultural Industry

• Necessary Skills:• Proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching,

and analyzing• Able to think on your feet• Good reasoning ability

MANAGERS AND FINANCIAL SPECIALIST

•Agricultural Consultant•Agricultural Economist

AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT

• Audits and appraises agricultural business and makes suggestions on improvements

• Education Requirements:• Bachelor’s degree in agricultural business or agricultural

education

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST

• Studies data and statistics in order to spot trends in economic activity, economic confidence levels and consumer attitudes

• Skills Necessary:• Accuracy• Good Communication Skills• Ability to Work Independently

MARKETING, MERCHANDISING, & SALES REPRESENTATIVES

•Agricultural Chemical Dealer

•Animal Health's Products Representatives

•Agricultural Equipment Dealer

AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL DEALER

• Serves the farming community by providing chemicals used in farm situations.

• Knowledge of chemical uses warning and disposal methods is necessary

• Education Requirements:• College degree helpful but not required• Sales experience needed• Knowledge of Chemical regulations • Pesticide License

ANIMAL HEALTH’S PRODUCTS REPRESENTATIVES

• Develops sales and marketing strategies for selling animal health products

• Necessary Skills:• Communicating effectively• Enjoy Traveling• Goal Oriented• Problem Solving

SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND RELATED SPECIALISTS

• Agricultural Construction Engineer• Animal Breeder• Artificial Breeding Technician• Veterinarian

VETERINARIAN

• Maintains health of livestock herds and animals• Public

• Health of government owned animal• Food Audits

• Private• Health of privately owned animals• Some are employed by corporations to care for company

owned animals

• Education:• Doctorate of Veterinarian Medicine

ANIMAL NUTRITION

• Research different feed types• Example: Purina

• Education Required:• College education, Masters preferred to be a research

leader

AGRICULTURAL CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER

• Designs and contracts agricultural structures such as mills, fertilizer plants, barns, etc.

• Equipment Engineer• Education Required:

• Master’s degree preferred in agriculture engineering.

ANIMAL BREEDER

• Breed and raise animals to improve traits, to develop new breeds, or to maintain standards of existing breeds

• Necessary Skills:• Organized• Reliable and be able to follow detailed instructions

ARTIFICIAL BREEDING TECHNICIAN

• Assists in collecting and maintaining semen, identifying appropriate times to inseminate (deposits sperm) female and the actual insemination process

• Education Requirements:• Technical school or a college degree• Specialized training in artificial insemination

techniques

RESEARCH SECTOR

• Research different agriculture techniques and developments

• Education Required:• College, Masters or doctorate preferred to be a research

leader

SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS

•Foreign Affairs Officials•Food and Drug Inspector

FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIALS

• Foreign affairs officials assist in planning and implementing foreign affairs program which secure the interests of the country while promoting agriculture

• Working Conditions:• Travel frequently and work out of an office building

FOOD AND DRUG INSPECTOR

• Food and Drug inspector impose federal and state grading standards on food and drug products for the purpose of ensuring consumer safety and fair pricing

• Necessary Skills:• Like detailed work• Responsible• Good oral and written communication

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT DEALER

• Farm equipment dealer sell and service farm machinery and equipment

• Education Requirements:• Bachelor’s degree with emphasis on agriculture and

business.• High School courses in agriculture, business and

mechanics

AGRICULTURAL JOURNALIST

• Gather, write, edit and report news articles that are published

• Education Required:• Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, communications, English

or political science. High School classes in agriculture, journalism, media, computers, and business