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plant pathology
One such scientific career is in the
field of plant pathology – the study of
diseases in plants. Disease is one of the
“silent killers” in the world of agriculture,
and plant pathologists are paid to
investigate the pathogens that infect
crops around the world so they can find
ways to prevent infectious outbreaks
from ruining farmers’ yields.
Bacteria and viruses can cause
disease in plants just like they can in
animals, but plant pathologists also
study infectious fungi, parasitic plants
and other sources of illness. The
results of this research are then used to
produce chemical treatments and draft
quarantine plans as needed. Geneticists
can also breed disease-resistant
crops to stop pathogens at the source
effectively.
Any aspiring agricultural
professionals wanting to work in plant
pathology will likely need an advanced
degree in biology or a related field of
study. However, some universities have
departments and degrees focused
solely on plant pathology, such as the
University of California, Davis.
aerial applicator
Not all agricultural careers require
advanced degrees, though. For
example, anyone interested in getting
a pilot’s license can become an aerial
applicator and use small airplanes to
drop fertilizer, pesticides and other
protective treatments directly onto a
farmer’s crops from above.
Aerial application – more commonly
known as crop dusting – is a practice
first invented in the early 1920s as a joint
effort between the U.S. Department
of Agriculture and the U.S. Army.
While it requires specialized airplanes,
agricultural aviation training programs
typically only take a few months to
complete. As a result, workers who earn
their pilot’s license can also become
aerial surveyors, air freighters and more.
branding and
trademarks
Although agriculture is often thought of
as an industry built on working outdoors,
working indoors is always an option.
Becky Fouard, a global learning and
development consultant for Elanco
Animal Health and a former National
FFA Officer, has used her marketing
background to work in several corporate
jobs throughout her career, including a
unique stint as a specialist in branding
and trademarks.
“My very first job out of college
was with the Kansas Department of
Agriculture as the state trademark
programmer,” Fouard said. “It was a job
I had never heard of, and I absolutely
loved it!”
Fouard worked on branding,
trademarks and other legal filings
for agricultural products made in the
state of Kansas. At the same time, she
also worked as a food export liaison,
traveling overseas with farmers and
other ag producers to build international
trade connections.
“It was an awesome chance to learn
about multiple agriculture products and
services, as well as travel,” Fouard said.
agricultural
attorneys
Most agricultural corporate jobs
will likely require some kind of college
degree, especially true in the legal
side of ag. Before she became a
global educator for Corteva, Hamm
worked in the legal department of Dow
AgroSciences, and she said agricultural
attorneys are a vital part of keeping the
agriculture industry going.
“That can be from a branding
standpoint – brands need to be
protected, so we have legal that works
with that,” Hamm said. “Attorneys also
work on intellectual property, so if you
really like law and science, that’s a great
combination for you.”
While she is not an attorney
herself, Hamm worked as a patent
liaison for over four years, writing
patent applications and serving as a
connection point between scientists
and attorneys .
“If you love writing and you love
brand new technologies … it’s super
exciting,” Hamm said. “These are things
that have never been done before,
because you can’t patent something
that’s been done before.”
Attorneys who specialize in
agriculture need to be highly qualified
individuals. In addition to earning a
bachelor’s degree and an advanced
degree from a law school – typically a
seven-year commitment at a minimum –
a deep knowledge of the inner workings
of the agricultural industry is also a
natural requirement.
safety manager
Another unique yet vitally important
ag job is working as a safety manager.
Statistically, farming is a dangerous job
– twice as deadly as law enforcement,
according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics . While their exact duties
can vary greatly depending on their
location and employer, safety managers
are generally responsible for ensuring
that farmers, researchers and other ag
workers follow safety regulations and
use safe equipment.
“People don’t really think about all
the safety that goes into ag,” Hamm
said. “Not only on the farm but in a
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