Agricultural Agricultural CareersCareers

Presented by:Presented by:

Marie O. BoltMarie O. Bolt

Anderson V Career CampusAnderson V Career Campus

Agricultural InstructorAgricultural Instructor

Agricultural WorkforceAgricultural WorkforceApproximately 22 Million People are Approximately 22 Million People are Employed in an Agricultural CareerEmployed in an Agricultural Career20% Of Agricultural Careers Require a 20% Of Agricultural Careers Require a College EducationCollege Education400Thousand people are needed each 400Thousand people are needed each year to fill positions in the Agriculture year to fill positions in the Agriculture IndustryIndustryOnly 100 Thousand jobs are being Only 100 Thousand jobs are being filled each year by trained peoplefilled each year by trained people

Yearly Employment Opportunities for Yearly Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in AgriscienceCollege Graduates in Agriscience

34% 29%

7% 9% 7% 13%

34% - Marketing, Merchandising, & Sales Representatives29% - Scientists, Engineers, & Related Professionals13% - Managers & Financial Specialists7% - Agricultural Production Specialists9% - Social Services Professionals7% - Education & Communication Specialists

Production AgricultureProduction Agriculture

1/5 of All Agricultural Careers1/5 of All Agricultural CareersProduction Agriculture is defined Production Agriculture is defined as Farming and Ranching.as Farming and Ranching.It involves the growing and It involves the growing and marketing of field crops and marketing of field crops and livestocklivestockU.S. Farmers produce enough U.S. Farmers produce enough food and fiber to feed 155 peoplefood and fiber to feed 155 people

Types of Agricultural Types of Agricultural Production JobsProduction Jobs

Cattle RancherCattle Rancher

Diversified Crop FarmerDiversified Crop Farmer

Diversified Livestock Diversified Livestock ProducerProducer

Farm ManagerFarm Manager

Cattle RancherCattle Rancher

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

Knowledge Requirements:Knowledge Requirements:

Cattle industry including cattle prices, quality and Cattle industry including cattle prices, quality and markets. Nutrition, reproduction, and animal markets. Nutrition, reproduction, and animal health are also important areashealth are also important areas

Salary:Salary:

$0 - $ unlimited (income varies greatly upon $0 - $ unlimited (income varies greatly upon quantity of cattle and extent of operationquantity of cattle and extent of operation

Diversified Crop FarmerDiversified Crop Farmer

Crop Farming- workers plant, cultivate and Crop Farming- workers plant, cultivate and harvest crops of fruits, fiber, grains, or harvest crops of fruits, fiber, grains, or vegetables.vegetables.May raise one specialty crop or diversified May raise one specialty crop or diversified crops, they often produce several different crops, they often produce several different types of crops simultaneouslytypes of crops simultaneouslySalary:Salary: $0 - $ depends on crop$0 - $ depends on crop

Diversified Livestock ProducerDiversified Livestock Producer

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

Salary: $0 - $ UnlimitedSalary: $0 - $ Unlimited

Necessary SkillsNecessary Skills

Skills Necessary:Skills Necessary: OrganizedOrganized Computer skills and basic business Computer skills and basic business

knowledgeknowledge Willing to work independentlyWilling to work independently Enjoy working outside in all kinds of weatherEnjoy working outside in all kinds of weather

Farm ManagerFarm ManagerOrganize and Analyze farm resources, finances, Organize and Analyze farm resources, finances, and problemsand problemsDevelop solutions and plans for future farm Develop solutions and plans for future farm enterprisesenterprisesMake daily farming decisions related to crops, Make daily farming decisions related to crops, machinery and labormachinery and laborPerform any necessary farm task (work)Perform any necessary farm task (work)Salary:Salary: $15,000 – $ Unlimited, depends on size and $15,000 – $ Unlimited, depends on size and

varies greatly from year to yearvaries greatly from year to year

Communication and Education Communication and Education Specialist CareersSpecialist Careers

Agriculture TeacherAgriculture Teacher

Agricultural Extension Agricultural Extension SpecialistSpecialist

Agricultural JournalistAgricultural Journalist

Agricultural LawyerAgricultural Lawyer

Agriculture TeacherAgriculture Teacher

Develop program, curriculum and activities Develop program, curriculum and activities related to agriculture for youth adults and related to agriculture for youth adults and graduatesgraduatesJob Availability: SteadyJob Availability: SteadyWorking Conditions: Indoors in classroom, Working Conditions: Indoors in classroom, outdoors with experiments and hands-on outdoors with experiments and hands-on activitiesactivitiesSalary: $ 20,000 - $ 65,000Salary: $ 20,000 - $ 65,000

Agricultural Extension SpecialistAgricultural Extension Specialist

Organize and conduct cooperative Organize and conduct cooperative extension program to advise and instruct extension program to advise and instruct farmers and individuals engaged in farmers and individuals engaged in agribusiness applications of agricultural agribusiness applications of agricultural research findings.research findings.Salary: $22,000 - $60,000Salary: $22,000 - $60,000Skill Necessary: Skill Necessary: Strong interest in helping othersStrong interest in helping others Excellent communication skillsExcellent communication skills

Agricultural LawyerAgricultural Lawyer

Focus on the law as it applies to the Agricultural Focus on the law as it applies to the Agricultural IndustryIndustry

Necessary Skills:Necessary Skills: Proficiency in writing, speaking, reading, Proficiency in writing, speaking, reading,

researching, and analyzingresearching, and analyzing Able to think on your feetAble to think on your feet Good reasoning abilityGood reasoning ability

Salary:Salary: $40,000 - $ Unlimited$40,000 - $ Unlimited

Managers and Financial Managers and Financial SpecialistSpecialist

Agricultural ConsultantAgricultural Consultant

Agricultural EconomistAgricultural Economist

Agricultural ConsultantAgricultural Consultant

Audits and appraises agricultural business Audits and appraises agricultural business and makes suggestions on improvementsand makes suggestions on improvements

Salary: $26,000 - $ UnlimitedSalary: $26,000 - $ Unlimited

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

agricultural educationagricultural education

Agricultural EconomistAgricultural Economist

Studies data and statistics in order to spot Studies data and statistics in order to spot trends in economic activity, economic trends in economic activity, economic confidence levels and consumer attitudesconfidence levels and consumer attitudesSalary: $40,000 - $100,000Salary: $40,000 - $100,000Skills Necessary:Skills Necessary: AccuracyAccuracy Good Communication SkillsGood Communication Skills Ability to Work IndependentlyAbility to Work Independently

Marketing, Merchandising, & Marketing, Merchandising, & Sales RepresentativesSales Representatives

Agricultural Chemical DealerAgricultural Chemical Dealer

Animal Health Products Animal Health Products RepresentativesRepresentatives

Agricultural Equipment DealerAgricultural Equipment Dealer

Agricultural Chemical DealerAgricultural Chemical Dealer

Serves the farming community by providing Serves the farming community by providing chemicals used in farm situations. chemicals used in farm situations. Knowledge of chemical uses warning and Knowledge of chemical uses warning and disposal methods is necessarydisposal methods is necessarySalary: $ 21,000 - $75,000Salary: $ 21,000 - $75,000Education Requirements:Education Requirements: College degree helpful but not requiredCollege degree helpful but not required Sales experience neededSales experience needed Knowledge of Chemical regulations Knowledge of Chemical regulations Pesticide LicensePesticide License

Animal Health’s Products Animal Health’s Products RepresentativesRepresentatives

Develops sales and marketing strategies Develops sales and marketing strategies for selling animal health productsfor selling animal health productsSalary: $ 22,000 – $100,000Salary: $ 22,000 – $100,000Necessary Skills:Necessary Skills: Communicating effectivelyCommunicating effectively Enjoy TravelingEnjoy Traveling Goal OrientedGoal Oriented Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Scientists, Engineers and Scientists, Engineers and Related SpecialistsRelated Specialists

Animal Scientist Animal Scientist

Agricultural Construction EngineerAgricultural Construction Engineer

Animal BreederAnimal Breeder

Artificial Breeding TechnicianArtificial Breeding Technician

Animal ScientistAnimal Scientist

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development MedicineMedicine Animal Medicine, Dewormers, etcAnimal Medicine, Dewormers, etc Human replacement parts (heart valve, etc)Human replacement parts (heart valve, etc) Uses of animal by-productsUses of animal by-products

Salary: $25,000 to $ Unlimited Salary: $25,000 to $ Unlimited

Education Required: Bachelor of Science Education Required: Bachelor of Science

Agricultural Construction Agricultural Construction EngineerEngineer

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

Salary: $26,000 - $ UnlimitedSalary: $26,000 - $ Unlimited

Education Required:Education Required: Master’s degree preferred in agriculture Master’s degree preferred in agriculture

engineering. engineering.

Animal BreederAnimal Breeder

Breed and raise animals to improve traits, Breed and raise animals to improve traits, to develop new breeds, or to maintain to develop new breeds, or to maintain standards of existing breedsstandards of existing breedsSalary: $18,000 - $ UnlimitedSalary: $18,000 - $ UnlimitedNecessary Skills:Necessary Skills: OrganizedOrganized Reliable and be able to follow detailed Reliable and be able to follow detailed

instructionsinstructions

Artificial Breeding TechnicianArtificial Breeding Technician

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

Salary: $23,000 - $36,000Salary: $23,000 - $36,000

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

insemination techniquesinsemination techniques

Social Service ProfessionalsSocial Service Professionals

Foreign Affairs OfficialsForeign Affairs Officials

Food and Drug InspectorFood and Drug Inspector

Foreign Food/Farming TrainingForeign Food/Farming Training

Foreign Affairs OfficialsForeign Affairs Officials

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

Salary: $28,000 - $75,000Salary: $28,000 - $75,000Working Conditions:Working Conditions: Travel frequently and work out of an office Travel frequently and work out of an office

buildingbuilding

Food and Drug InspectorFood and Drug Inspector

Food and Drug inspector impose federal and Food and Drug inspector impose federal and state grading standards on food and drug state grading standards on food and drug products for the purpose of ensuring consumer products for the purpose of ensuring consumer safety and fair pricingsafety and fair pricingSalary: $25,000 - $65,000Salary: $25,000 - $65,000Necessary Skills:Necessary Skills: Like detailed workLike detailed work ResponsibleResponsible Good oral and written communicationGood oral and written communication

Agricultural Equipment DealerAgricultural Equipment Dealer

Farm equipment dealer sell and service Farm equipment dealer sell and service farm machinery and equipmentfarm machinery and equipment

Salary: $28,000 - $75,000Salary: $28,000 - $75,000

Education Requirements:Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with emphasis on Bachelor’s degree with emphasis on

agriculture and business.agriculture and business. High School courses in agriculture, business High School courses in agriculture, business

and mechanicsand mechanics

Agricultural JournalistAgricultural Journalist

Gather, write, edit and report news articles that Gather, write, edit and report news articles that are published in agricultural magazines, are published in agricultural magazines, newspapers, journals or broadcast on radio or newspapers, journals or broadcast on radio or television.television.Salary: $20,000 - $55,000Salary: $20,000 - $55,000Education Required:Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, Bachelor’s Degree in journalism,

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

How to Start Planning for an How to Start Planning for an Agricultural Career?Agricultural Career?

Develop an Agricultural Career Develop an Agricultural Career PortfolioPortfolio A collection of your best work on A collection of your best work on

agricultural projects and other agricultural projects and other career-related materialscareer-related materials

The portfolio is used to sell your The portfolio is used to sell your skills to a prospective employersskills to a prospective employers

What to include in your What to include in your Portfolio?Portfolio?

ResumeResume

Photographs and written reports of Photographs and written reports of projects that you have completeprojects that you have complete

Newspaper clippingsNewspaper clippings

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

Personal and Career GoalsPersonal and Career Goals

Action Plan for accomplishing your goalsAction Plan for accomplishing your goals

How you can start planning at How you can start planning at different levels?different levels?

Middle School Career Plan:Middle School Career Plan: Develop science projects with plants, animals, Develop science projects with plants, animals,

soil, water, energy, ecology, conservation, soil, water, energy, ecology, conservation, and wildlifeand wildlife

Join 4-H and choose agricultural projectsJoin 4-H and choose agricultural projects Volunteer to work on lawn, garden, Volunteer to work on lawn, garden,

greenhouses, farm or conservation projectsgreenhouses, farm or conservation projects Enroll in agriculture or other career education Enroll in agriculture or other career education

projects at schoolprojects at school

High SchoolHigh SchoolEnroll in agriculture classes including plant science, Enroll in agriculture classes including plant science, animal science, agricultural mechanics, agribusiness animal science, agricultural mechanics, agribusiness and farm managementand farm managementEnroll in college – preparatory courses in English, Enroll in college – preparatory courses in English, math and sciencemath and scienceJoin 4-H and FFA organization and participate in Join 4-H and FFA organization and participate in leadership and citizenship activitiesleadership and citizenship activitiesDevelop a broad, supervised agricultural experience Develop a broad, supervised agricultural experience projectprojectAcquire hands-on, skill-development experienceAcquire hands-on, skill-development experienceConduct agricultural research project Conduct agricultural research project

Career Plan After High SchoolCareer Plan After High SchoolObtain an agricultural job and plan ways to get Obtain an agricultural job and plan ways to get additional training while on the jobadditional training while on the jobEnter a community college and take courses that Enter a community college and take courses that will transfer to the college of agriculture or life will transfer to the college of agriculture or life science of your choicescience of your choiceEnter a two-year program in technical agricultureEnter a two-year program in technical agricultureEnter a college of agriculture or life science and Enter a college of agriculture or life science and obtain a bachelor degree (B.S.), master degree obtain a bachelor degree (B.S.), master degree (M.S.), and/ or doctorate (Ph.D)(M.S.), and/ or doctorate (Ph.D)

Where to Obtain Agriculture Where to Obtain Agriculture Career Information?Career Information?

www.ffa.orgLook for the Career Center under the Site Look for the Career Center under the Site Index.Index.

If agriculture is in your future ……If agriculture is in your future ……

It is never to early to plan for It is never to early to plan for your your personal career personal career success.success.