1. Careers in Agriculture
Unlimited Possibilities

2. When you think of careers in
Agriculture
What types of jobs
Do you think of?

3. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR INTERESTS,
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU IN
AGRICULTURE
Banking Engineering Education
Communication Politics
Biology Mechanics Nutrition
Accounting Computers
Plant Science Marketing Chemistry
Animal Science Medicine
Law

4. EMPLOYMENT SKILL NEEDED FOR A JOB
IN
AGRICULTURE
 Integrity /Honesty  Self Esteem
&Responsibility
 Communication
 Team Participation
 Customer Service
 Problem solving /
Analysis Skills  Mathematics
 Listening  Writing Skills
 Social Skills

5. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 High School Diploma:  2 Years of College
 Associates Degree
Entry level, usually on farms in
production agriculture; Mid level management on farms;
experience and education for entry level positions in AG related
advancement. businesses.
wage - $8 - $10/hr wage - $10-$14/hr
salary - $20K - $30K/year

6. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 4 Years of College:  Advance Degrees
 Bachelors Degree  Masters Degree; PhD
Upper level management or Top Management on farms and AG
ownership on farms; mid to related business; Research at
upper levels in AG related Universities and industry.
business.
Salary: $55K+
wage: $14 - $18/hr
salary: 30K - $45K/yr

7. ADVANTAGES TO A CAREER IN
AGRICULTURE
 The quality of jobs/careers is comparable to
other industries
 Opportunities for females, males, all ages and
all education levels
 High tech and business orientated
 Agriculture is a vital part of everyone’s lives and
community.

8. STEPS TO TAKE IF INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN
AGRICULTURE
1. Evaluate your interests.
2. Take relevant high school courses.
3. Get as much experience as possible:
summer or weekend jobs; clubs and
organizations (Cornell Cooperative
Extension,4-H,FFA); internships.
4. Further your education.
5. Market yourself for career your interested in.

9. PRODUCER
DAIRY FARMER
Education Requirements: Although a
college
education is not required, a degree in dairy
animal science or other ag major is preferred.
Previous dairy experience is essential
The Dairy Producer’s role is to manage the
dairy farm business to produce quality
milk, while taking good care of both the
animals and land and managing a successful
business.

10. HERD MANAGER
 Educational Requirements: Although no
formal
education is required, a degree in dairy
science is
beneficial. Extensive on-farm experience is
also
needed to move successfully into position.
 A Herd Manager is responsible for making
decisions and caring for the animals in order
to produce the highest quality & quantity of

11. PHARMACEUTICAL REP
 Education Requirements:
A Bachelor’s degree for entry level positions
 The Pharmaceutical Representative’s role is
to improve health and wellness of animals by
educating vets and producers about products
and programs using a problem solving
approach.

12. AGRICULTURE ENGINEER
 Education Requirement: Professional engineers must
have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited engineering
college. They must pass a national examination to
become an engineer-in-training and work under
supervision of a professional engineer before obtaining
their professional engineer license. They must also pass
an exam to be licensed in each state. Strong math and
science skills are required. An agriculture background is
helpful.
 an Agriculture Engineer develops solutions to enable
dairy farmers to operate while decreasing the impact of
animal agriculture on the environment

13. CROP CONSULTANT
 Education Requirement: A Bachelor’s degree in
agronomy, animal/dairy science or ag mechanization is
helpful but not required. Some practical farm
experience and good oral and written communications
skills are very valuable to fulfill the responsibilities of a
crop consultant.
 A Crop Consultant provides independent advice for
customers to help them make informed decisions
about the aspects of their operation that pertain to crop
production and nutrient management.

14. LAB TECHNICIAN
 Education Requirement: High School diploma
with some college, training is provided.
 A lab technician conducts tests for
coliforms, standard plate counts and SCC. They
also work with milk handlers, run DNA tests for
mastitis, and provide the testing for raw milk
permits issued by the state.

15. DAIRY FOOD PLANT MANAGER
Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in Food
Science or a related field. Business and Engineering
skills would also be helpful.
Tasks:
A plant manager oversees food safety and quality of
milk and ice cream.
• Review of product, quality, and financial reports
• Taste milk and ice cream products
• Maintain dairy processing facility and machinery
• Purchasing of food products

16. AGRICULTURE TEACHER
 Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree
in Ag Education and familiarity with the ag
education program.
 An agriculture teacher instructs courses such as
large animal science, veterinary science, dairy
foods, and production agriculture. They also
facilitate FFA programs that allow students to
gain career development skills.

17. DAIRY HERD IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
(DHIA) REPRESENTATIVE
 Education Requirements: A Bachelor’s
Degree in Dairy Science, Dairy Management or
related field is desired. Coursework, formal
training, associate’s degree and/or experience
in dairy records management is necessary to
fulfill responsibilities.
 A DHIA Representative provides producers with
DHIA milk testing and dairy herd management
resources.

18. AG LAWYER
 Education Requirements: Bachelor’s
Degree and a Jurist Doctorate degree from a
law school. This usually takes about seven
years total.
 Ag lawyers provide legal advice and
services to producers to help them minimize
taxes, assist with farm transitions, settle
legal disputes and form farm businesses.

19. AG JOURNALIST & MEDIA
Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree
in dairy science or in communications. A
combination of both would be helpful.
 Anagricultural journalist is responsible for
covering events and writing feature stories.

20. DAIRY ECONOMIST
 Education Requirement: A four year college degree in
an agricultural and economics field. Strong analytical and
mathematical skills are necessary. As a professor of Ag
Economics a Ph.D. is also needed.
 Tasks:
• Research current market events in dairy and the global
economy
• Analyze information
• Create graphs, tables, and text that explain market trends
• Communicate with others about industry trends

21. AG BANKER
 Education Requirement: A four year college
degree
 Anag lender provides loan products, wealth
management, crop insurance, financial
management and budgeting.

22. GRAPHIC DESIGNER
 Education Requirement: Bachelor’s in
Graphic Design/Visual Arts plus several
years of experience. Must be proficient in
various software programs on both Mac and
PC platforms.
A graphic designer designs and visually
communicates messages on behalf of dairy
farmers, encouraging and influencing
consumers to purchase a dairy product.

23. BUSINESS PLANNER
 Education Requirements: Master’s degree
in Agriculture Economics
 A business planner provides monthly
financial statements, benchmarks, milk check
analysis, & actual-to-budget reports

24. SALES MANAGER
 Education Requirements: A Bachelor of
Science degree in an agricultural field with
sales experience.
A sales manager oversees sales
representatives who make farm visits to sell
a product.

25. CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
EDUCATOR
 Education Requirement: Minimum of
Master’s degree in extension education or
related field. Some have PhDs.
 Educate farmers and communities using
research-based knowledge from the
universities for practical application and
lifelong learning.

26. DAIRY MARKETER
 Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in
business, marketing, accounting and/or
management, with knowledge of federal
orders, state orders, over-order pricing, and of
industry and dairy farms in general
 A dairy marketer adds value to the dairy
farmer’s milk through market access to
processing. The marketer’s role is to oversee
the sales and marketing of raw milk to dairy
processors

27. GENETIC ANALYST
 Education Requirement: Bachelor of
Science or advanced degree
 Identify and understand the functions of
genes involved in
growth, reproduction, and behavior in
animals or plants.
.

28. DAIRY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN
 Education Requirements: High school
education plus career training in electrical
and refrigeration is helpful.
 A dairy equipment technician provides
milking equipment service for dairy farmers
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days
per year.

29. ACCOUNTANT
 Education Requirements: As of January
2012, all CPAs must complete 150 credit
hours, have one year experience under a
CPA, and pass a uniform CPA exam.
 The accountant advises the business owner
on making decisions by providing sound
financial statements and information.

30. FOOD SCIENTIST
 Education Requirement:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science
 Tasks include:
• Manager and primary cheese maker, including:
 Cheese making
 Training employees
 Installing standard operating procedures
 Assigning jobs to ensure cheese completion

31. VETERINARIAN
 Education Requirement: Four year pre-vet
program followed by a four year professional
degree program, a license in states of practices.
There is also a continuing education
requirement.
 Veterinarians benefit the dairy industry by
focusing on maintaining the health and well-
being of individual animals, maximizing the
health and productivity of their clients’ dairy
herds and combining their experiences in health
and business management to maintain and
maximize the health of their clients’ businesses

32. BUILDER
 Education Requirement: Required skills
depend on area of expertise. Those who design
buildings need engineer or architect degree.
Dairy background is essential as well as
communication and people skills.
 A Builder provides designs that focus on new
concepts on cow comfort, cow flow convenience
and durable materials resulting in facilities that
create maximum production efficiency for the
producer.

33. NUTRITIONIST
 Education Requirement: Applicants must have
a desire and time commitment to continual
learning in nutrition. A bachelor’s degree in dairy
field and on-farm experience would be helpful.
 A Nutritionist provides nutritional expertise and
products to dairy farmers, enabling them to
maintain and improve the production and health
of their cows in a sustainable and resourceful
way, thus ensuring the farm remains a vital
operation.

34. ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
A.I. REPRESENTATIVE
 Education Requirement: Must be a high
school graduate, but an associate’s or
bachelor’s degree is very beneficial in
understanding concepts of
reproduction, physiology and business.
Interpersonal and communications skills are
needed to develop relationships.
 An A.I. representative serves as an artificial
technician, customer service representative and
sales person for the A.I. company

35. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
 315-788-8450
 Agronomy – Mike Hunter
 AG Outreach – Art Baderman
 Horticulture – Sue Gwise
 Farm Business – Corey Hayes
 Dairy / Livestock - Ron Kuck