Agricultural and Food Scientists

What do they do?

Agricultural and food scientists apply principles of physical and life sciences to protects, develop, and manage agricultural resources. They study farm crops and animals and develop ways of improving their quality and quantity. They look for ways to increase yields with less labor, control pests and weeds more effectively, and conserve soil and water. They improve the processing and use of foods.

Work Activities

• Manage or administer research and development projects or marketing and production operations.
• Do research on the breeding, feeding, and diseases of domestic farm animals.
• Improve plant culture methods for the beautification of communities, homes, and parks and for increasing crop quality and yields.
• Study soil characteristics, map soil types, and determine the best types of crops for each soil.
• Study insects and their relation to plant and animal life.
• Improve the development, production, processing, and use of foods.

Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge and skills to apply scientific theories and date and to use research techniques.
• Ability to analyze data and produce oral and written technical reports.
• Skills in using many types of tools and laboratory equipment.
• Skills in supervising projects and people.
• Skills problem solving and making decisions based on data.
• Have ability to learn and apply a variety of scientific principles.
• Be able to use words in speaking, writing, and reading technical materials.
• Have ability to take responsibility and make decisions based on facts.
• Be able to understand space and form relationships, make decisions based on data, and measure accurately within precise standards.
• Have good space, form, and color perception, ability to pay attention to detail, and good hand and finger dexterity.

Work settings

Environment: Work indoors and laboratories and outdoors at field sites.
Hours: Work 40 hours a week although hours may be irregular depending on employer.
Employers: Government agencies, educational institutions, agricultural service companies, nurseries, seed companies, tree farms, fertilizer companies, private research and consulting firms, food processing companies, and self-employed.

Employment & wages

By 2000, it's estimated that 658 agricultural and food scientists will be employed in Nebraska. Growth and/or turnover create approximately 22 annual job openings. It's estimated that 31,000 agricultural and food scientists will be employed in the U.S. by 2005.

Projected growth
Nebraska - Little change or more slowly than average, 3%
National - About as fast as average, 19%
Nebraska annual beginning wage: $17,000 to $22,000
Nebraska annual experienced wage: $22,000 to $30,000
National annual average wage: $19,700 to $42,200

Licensing / Certification &Training

A bachelors degree in an agricultural science or a related field such as chemistry or biology is necessary.
Advanced degrees are required for research, teaching, and administrative positions and by some employers. Previous work experience in the agricultural field is helpful.
Training in several specialty occupations may be obtained through apprenticeship training.

Helpful high school subjects

High school subjects that may help prepare individuals for this occupation include English, composition, literature, speech, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, algebra I and II, geometry, foreign language, agriculture, soil and plant science, business and consumer law, geography, and computer applications.

Bibliography

Nebraska Career Information System: Occupations (1996-97 ed.), pp. 91-93.
Complete Guide for Occupational Exploration (1993 ed.), pp. 125-127.
Dictionary of Occupational Titles (4th ed. Revised, 1991), p. 47-49.
Occupational Outlook Handbook (1996-97 ed.), p. 101.