Careers in Agriculture By: Jonathan Grimes

Career Choice Everyone faces a career choice Sooner or later you will have to decide what you would like to do in life. You should base this on what interest you and what you enjoy doing.

Career A progression of related jobs or work experience that includes employment, continuing education, and personal growth An expression of lifestyle and personality A responsibility to family, community, and society A goal or aspiration(something you dream of)

Questions to ask Yourself! What do I enjoy doing? How much time do I want to spend in education and training? Am I willing to leave home or not? What type of salary range will I be satisfied with? What work hours will fit my schedule? Do I want to be outside or inside?

Most important question! The most important question you should ask yourself is “WHAT DO I ENJOY DOING?” major portion of your life spent on the job that job will determine your life quality

Agriculture Careers Deal with the growth and harvest of crops for commercial and scientific purposes, the raising and training of animals, the health of plants and animals, the use of natural resources, and the management of agricultural businesses and production of agricultural goods.

Things to consider about an Ag. Career? Most jobs are labor intensive Workers perform duties w/out close supervision Work w/both people and animals (Not people person better consider dealing w/mostly nature or animals) Ex. Farm life Fondness for animals can only take you so far. Takes a great skill in understanding how to treat and relate to animals.

Things to consider Continued Ag. Production takes a great deal of planning and discipline today. You have to be aware of pesticides, erosion, nitrogen, depletion, flood plains, unpredictable weather events, and pollution and waste issues. Most all of these fall under state laws a producer has to respect and follow.

Today’s Agriculture Years ago a career in agriculture was just considered farming for a living. Today there are many opportunities pertaining to agriculture There are approximately 21 million people employed in agriculture careers About 400,000 people are needed each year to fill vacancies in these positions ?????Of those vacancies only 100,000 are currently being filled by people trained in agriculture Ag. Industries employ 1/5 of all workers in the U.S.

What do you think? Is there a strong demand for people seeking ag. Careers or a weak demand? Do you think there is many opportunities to pursue and agriculture carreer?

Major Career Areas in Agriculture Production Ag.-(farming and ranching) involves the growing and marketing of field crops and livestock. Agriscience Processing, Products, and Distribution-those parts of the industry that haul, grade, process, package, and market commodities from production sources Pick any item of food, clothing, or other commodity. Most items can be traced back to a farm, ranch, forest, greenhouse, body of water, or other ag. Production facility. Hauling, Selling, Processing, Merchandising, Inspection, and Research All of these get the commodity to you(consumer).

Major Career Areas Contd. Horticulture-includes producing, processing, and marketing fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals plants(flowers, shrubs, turf grass) Labor Intensive Landscape designer, greenhouse mgr., golf course superintendent, florist, strawberry grower, veg. retailer

Major Career Areas Contd. Forestry-grows, manages, and harvests trees for lumber, poles, posts, panels, mulch, and others Jobs from growing seedling trees to marketing wood products Most forest jobs require use of large machines Some that are not labor intensive would be a cruiser, teaching, marketing, or research

Major Career Areas Contd. Renewable Natural Resources-Mgt. Of wetlands, rangelands, water, fish, and wildlife Appreciation and knowledge of wildlife, plants, and animals Parks, Game Preserves, work w/landowners to preserve and enhance natural habitat, plants, and wildlife

Major Career Areas In Agriculture Agriscience Supplies and Services-businesses that sell supplies or provide services for people in the ag. Industry Ex. Of supplies: Seed, Feed, Fert., lawn equipment, farm machinery Businesses operated by owners, managers, mill operators, truck drivers, sales personnel, bookkeepers, field representatives These people in this area provide the supplies for the ag. Industry Some that don’t provide supplies that are in this area are (Legal Assistance, Ag. Publications, Advisors on Crops, money, livestock, pest control, soil fertiliy)

Major Career Areas in Ag. Ag. Mechanics-the design, operation, maint., service, selling, and use of machines, power units, structures, and utilities Involve use of hand and power tools, woodworking, metalworking, welding, electricity, plumbing, tractor and machinery mechanics, hydraulics, painting, and construction.

Computers in Agriscience Computers are used extensively in ag. Machinery Mgt., farm financial records, livestock mgt., crop mgt., commodity marketing, ag. business mgt. Tractors and harvesting equip. are now equipped w/computer technology that some one needs to know how to work on These system make things more efficient

Education and Training Associate Degree-2 yrs., degree from a community college or university Vet. Assistant, Farrier, Producer, A.I. Technician, Meat Cutter, Wool Grader Bachelor Degree(B.S.)-requires 4 yrs. of education at a college or university Farm or Ranch Mgr., Producer, High School Ag. Teacher, Ag. Journalist, Meat Grader, Company Representative, Hatchery Mgr., Dairy Inspector

Education and Training Master Degree(M.S.)-must complete your bachelor degree 1st. M.S. usually takes 1-3 yrs. Extension Agent, Community College Professor PhD(doctor of philosophy)-3 to 4 years, continuation after B.S. and M.S., conduct a lot of research, you choose a specific area you want to concentrate your studies such as reproduction, nutrition, business, and etc. Veterinarian, Animal Geneticist, Animal Nutritionist, Reproductive Physiologist, College Professor

Education and Training A graduate degree requires good grades in college and determination to study hard to reach your objective. About 20% of the careers in agriscience require college degrees Many professional careers in agriculture require 4 yr. college degrees But all the ag. careers differ, you can be a gifted mechanic straight out of high school or work for an advanced degree and become an ag. engineer

Before you invest in education What kind of work do you enjoy doing? What special skills and talents do you have? Match skills, talents, and interests to possible careers. Have a backup plan!

What can be done at your age to start working towards my career? Join 4-H, FFA, or Scouts and work on agricultural projects Volunteer to work on lawns, gardens, greenhouses, farms, or conservation projects Enroll in all the agriscience programs you possibly can Make science projects with plants, animals, soil, water, and wildlife

How to get info. On careers High and Intermediate Ag. Teachers High and Intermediate Guidance Counselors Career brochures College/University Catalogs Cooperative Extension State Dept. of Education Specialist in agriscience/agribusiness Internet

Sales Brochure Title page with creative company name Contents inside brochure should include Introduction Career History Training and education Salary Future Outlook Back Cover Contact info for company

Test Must be 30 Questions with Answer Key Must have multiple choice (with 4 answers), true/false, short answer and essay questions No more than 15 of any question type Can use notes and Book unit four, page 60 Cannot use questions out of the back of the Chapter Most of test should be on Careers but can ask questions about FFA