An agricultural manager directs the everyday function of an agricultural establishment.
According to the Agriculture Council of America (Ag Day), there are about 22 million individuals working within the more than 200 agriculture related fields. These opportunities are among the industries of food science, agribusiness, horticulture, forestry, fisheries or wildlife, food packaging, agriscience, resource development and management and natural resources communications. Most of these careers are not in traditional ranching or farming.
Agricultural and Food Scientists
Agricultural scientists develop ideas for improving agricultural methods through research on animals and farm crops. They may conduct basic study in the biological and chemical processes of plant and livestock growth or applied study where they monitor the production and safety of agricultural products or consult with agricultural businesses or the government. Food scientists or technologists use their background in sciences like biotechnology, chemistry and engineering to work with the government and food industries on the improvement of food production. They may specialize as soil scientists, animal scientists or plant scientists. These positions generally require a bachelor's degree in agricultural science but a graduate degree is needed for academic research careers. Food scientists earn an average of $59,630 a year. Soil and plant scientists earn about $59,180 a year and animal scientists make approximately $56,960 annually.
Agricultural Managers
Agricultural managers direct the everyday routine of agricultural establishments such as farms or ranches. They work for large corporations, absentee landowners or farmers and concentrate on business aspects, such as marketing. The duties of an agricultural manager depend on the size and the type of farm. For example, those in the crop farm business would be responsible for overseeing the harvest and monitoring the sales, storage and packaging of the products. An agricultural manager should obtain either an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in an agricultural business program within their intended work area. Full-time agricultural managers earn an average of $775 a week, with the highest paid in the field earning $1,735 a week on average.
Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Conservation scientists inform ranchers, farmers and farm managers on ways they can improve their land and prevent erosion. They work with the government and landowners with the interest of protecting natural resources and benefiting businesses at the same time. These scientists may focus in one field and hold job titles like soil conservationist, range manager or water conservationist. Foresters manage all activities involved in the country's forests and correspond with the forest industry, the public and individual landowners regarding health and sustainability issues. They may work as a land management forester responsible for monitoring the growth and harvest of trees, or as a procurement forester who negotiates the sales of wood products. The minimum requirement for any of these positions is a bachelor's degree in forestry, conservation science or related area. A graduate degree is necessary for research and academic occupations and preferred for government jobs. Conservation scientists earn an average of $60,160 a year and foresters earn an average of $53,840 annually.
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