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Agriculturists Have Lots of Specialties to Choose From

Agriculture, as defined by merriam-webster.com is "the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products." That's a broad sense of the word, as agriculturists can also be zoologists, botanists, entomologists, or any host of other specialties. Most, however, specialize in either crop or animal production, farm management, or biotechnology.

Crop specialists study crops. They figure out the best ways to rotate crops, fertilize and conserve soil, kill pests, and harvest crops. Others specialize in the development of pesticides and herbicides.

Animal specialists study animal production, of course. They figure out ways to breed and maintain livestock in order to maximize profits.

Farm management specialists are more concerned with the business end of farming. They study and provide ways to help farmers maintain profitability overall, getting into such areas as production economics and strategic planning. Sometimes they even help farmers with retirement options and other financial planning.

Biotechnologists specialize in the development of new plant varieties. Their goal is to produce stronger, more pest-resistant and disease-resistant plants.

In addition, there are opportunities for agriculturists in the markets of livestock medicine production, organic farming, rural farm development, and even overseas, helping struggling countries with farm development. The specialties available within the science of agriculture are seemingly unlimited. However, the number of actual jobs available is a different story. Although jobs in this industry are relatively scarce, it's estimated that as organic farming continues to grow, the need for agriculturists will increase, as more research is needed.

The pay scale varies greatly, depending on the specialty and whether the individual works for a large company or as a paid consultant on a farm. Most make between $40,000 to $75,000 a year, although as limitless as the specialties in the industry are, agriculturists may find themselves making much more in certain positions.

Quite a bit of education is required if you want to be able to call yourself an agriculturist. A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement, but most companies want you to have a master's degree if you intend to do research.

As many different specialties as there are in agriculture, the one thing all agriculturists have in common is that they all enjoy nature, and they don't mind working outside in varying weather conditions. Agriculturists will usually spend a great deal of their time outside, doing such things as taking soil samples, studying leaves of plants, or evaluating livestock. It's not an easy job, but it is a rewarding one and one that will be needed increasingly in the future.

Agriculture Resources