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HYDROPONICS GROWER
Haven’t heard of hydroponics? You
likely will soon. Hydroponics is the
farming of plants or crops in water
using mineral nutrients without soil.
Many consider hydroponics farming of
the future due to its space-saving
technology and relatively low cost
when opposed to land expense and
increasing scarcity. As a hydroponics
grower, one would have very similar
job duties to a horticulturist but with
the added education and tasks
associated with hydroculture.
Degree to Pursue:
Diploma/
degree in horticulture, plant science, or
similar agricultural field.
Potential Employers:
Agricultural
organizations, crop or produce farms,
orchards, vineyards, research firms,
seed companies, conservation
organizations, colleges and universities.
AGRICULTURE ADVOCACY &
LITERACY SPECIALIST
As agriculture is sometimes perceived
negatively in the public eye, this field
will grow more prominent in the years
to come. Agriculture advocacy and
literacy specialists educate those who
may not be aware of agriculture’s
importance, and they advocate for their
organization as well as the industry as a
whole. If you have a passion for
agriculture and have a desire to
support the advancement of the
industry, you may want to consider this
career path.
Degree to Pursue:
Bachelor’s or
master’s degree in agricultural studies,
agricultural education, agricultural com-
munications, agribusiness or related field.
Potential Employers:
Agricultural
associations, large-scale agricultural and
food companies.
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
Agricultural marketing majors or those
interested in communications may
consider narrowing their career focus
directly on social media. Since social
media is constantly changing and the
challenge of reaching users is increasing,
employers will need dedicated strategists
to develop plans for improved
engagement and to decipher analytics.
Degree to Pursue:
Bachelor’s or
master’s degree in marketing, journalism,
communications, ag communications, ag
business, digital media or public relations.
Potential Employers:
Various
agricultural companies and organizations,
agricultural associations, food
production companies, colleges and
universities, and advertising agencies.
ENTOMOLOGIST / PEST
CONTROL SPECIALIST
In a recent report, pest control
specialist was listed as a career expected
to see a strong employment market in
the next five years. These professionals
research insects and their interaction
with plants. They also work to protect
crops and the environment from
harmful pests.
Degree to Pursue:
Pest control
specialists will need a diploma or degree
in crop science, plant pathology,
entomology or a related field.
Entomologists will need to earn a
master’s or doctorate degree in one of
the aforementioned fields. Additional
certifications may be required.
Potential Employers:
Pest control
companies, crop protection companies,
seed companies, conservation
organizations, colleges and universities.
PRECISION AGRICULTURE
SPECIALISTS
If you enjoy video games, learning how
they work and how their technology can
be applied in the working world,
precision agriculture is a great career
choice for you. Production farming is
rapidly advancing, and the industry will
need precision agriculture specialists to
create these technologies and
troubleshoot problems as they arise.
Precision agriculture specialists provide
technical and sales support to custom-
ers regarding technologies such as GPS
application systems and yield monitors.
Degree to Pursue:
Bachelor’s
degree in agricultural systems technology
or a related field.
Potential Employers:
Precision
agriculture companies and agricultural
equipment dealerships and
manufacturers.
careers in Agriculture
by Kristine Penning, AgCareers.com Creative Marketing Specialist
You know you want to work in agriculture but are you unsure of what career you see yourself in? In the near future, there will
likely be a great demand for these five up-and-coming careers you may have never even heard of.
you haven’t considered
