Agriculture

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

Career and Major Information:

 

According to the University of Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the employment outlook for agriculture and natural resources majors is very good.  The field of Agriculture encompasses several majors that are divided into the following departments. 

 

Agricultural Economics and Business

Agricultural Education

Animal Sciences

Biosystems Engineering

Entomology and Plant Pathology

Environmental Science

Food Science and Technology

Forest Resource Management

Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design

Plant Sciences

Veterinary Medicine/Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Wildland Recreation

Wildlife and Fisheries Management

 

Students who obtain a degree in agriculture will be prepared to value the development of raw materials produced on farms, ranches, nurseries, and forestlands, and they will be taught to market their products.  Expanding world populations and shrinking natural resources will present complex problems to be solved by college graduates in these areas.  Students who obtain graduate degrees in agricultural disciplines may do consulting work for the government and for farm and conservation organizations.

 

The Associate of Science degree in Agriculture at Walters State Community College is designed to fulfill course requirements for the freshman and sophomore levels of a bachelor’s degree.  This program is a university parallel curriculum, designed to transfer; however, it is not course specific for any particular college or university.   A student will need to consult with a faculty advisor at WSCC or at the four-year school to which he/she intends to transfer to determine individual course requirements.  The link for the Technical Education Division at WSCC is: http://www.ws.edu/teched/agriculture/default.asp

 

 

 

Related Career Titles:

 

Farm Manager	Pest Management Consultant
Salesman	Mosquito Abatement Consultant
Financial Specialist	Plant Pathologist
Commodity Broker	Manager for Farmers Cooperative
Agriculture Education Teacher	Private Consultant
Agricultural Extension Agent	Product Researcher
Production Manager	Market Researcher
Quality Control Inspector	Timber Broker
Food Industry Manager	Forester
Breed Organization Field Representative	Range Manager
Government Inspector	Conservation Scientist
Environmental Engineer	Landscape Designer
Design Engineer	Grounds Manager
Plant Engineer	Newspaper Columnist
Educational Director of an Arboretum	Grower/Manager
Buyer	Farm Crop Advisor
Golf Course Superintendent	Animal Health Researcher
Park Ranger	Recreation/Conservation Planner
Environmental Educator	Wildlife Officer
Aquaculturist	Environmental and Land Management
Consultant

 

Web Sites:

 

Agricultural Career Guide

http://www.Khake.com/page39.html

 

Careers in Agricultural Science

www.fl-ag.com/PlanetAg

 

Careers in Agriculture

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/agmania/career

 

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

http://casnr.tennessee.edu/

 

Salary Information:

 

Median hourly earnings of science technicians in 2002 were as follows:

 

Median annual earnings of agricultural and food scientists were $48,670 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,770 and $65,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,460.

 

Median annual earnings of agricultural engineers were $50,700 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $40,320 and $70,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,590, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $87,220.

 

Median hourly earnings of agricultural inspectors were $13.76 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.44 and $18.79. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.10, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.94.

Incomes of farmers and ranchers vary greatly from year to year because prices of farm products fluctuate depending upon weather conditions and other factors that influence the quantity and quality of farm output and the demand for those products. A farm that shows a large profit in one year may show a loss in the following year. Farmers, however, often receive government subsidies or other payments that supplement their incomes and reduce some of the risk of farming. Price supports for dairy farmers, though, are being phased out and may result in lower incomes for these farmers. Many farmers—primarily operators of small farms—have income from off-farm business activities or careers, often greater than that of their farm income.

Full-time, salaried farm managers had median annual earnings of $43,740 in 2002. The middle half earned between $32,620 and $59,330. The highest paid 10 percent earned more than $81,100, and the lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $24,410.

Farmers and self-employed farm managers make their own provisions for benefits. As members of farm organizations, they may derive benefits such as group discounts on health and life insurance premiums.

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos176.htm