Agricultural Careers Turf Scientist By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Trisha Rae Stephens Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005 START

Job Duties & Responsibilities Conduct experiments and record findings Study plant and soil conditions and problems Develop new technology to reduce pests Perform experiments to determine how various conditions affects plant growth Manage production and/or research for companies Identify and classify species of grass and turf pests Teach turfgrass management in college and university settings

Qualities and Skills Good physical condition is needed Manual labor is sometimes required to establish and maintain research plots Must be patient and persistent in carrying out research May require traveling Good communication skills

Salary In the U.S. the median wage for agricultural turf scientists is about $50,124. Half of all agricultural turf scientists earn between $37,440 and $67,329 per year. These figures change relative to location and position.

Work Environment Research and teaching is done both indoors and outdoors May be required to travel Works at least 40 hours per week

Becoming a Turf Scientist In high school, take college-prep courses in horticulture, biology, botany, and chemistry in addition to core academic classes Other extremely helpful courses include public speaking, business, accounting, Spanish, and computer science. An internship will be beneficial for an entry level position and experience in the field during high school or while attending college.

Career Resources American Phytopathological Society (APS) Internet: American Nursery and Landscape Association Internet: Professional Lawn Care of America Association Internet: Sports Turf Managers Association Internet: United States Golf Association – Greens Section Internet: