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AGCAREERS.COM
AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE
I
t may be scary to explore a career in
agriculture, especially if you have no
prior experience in the field. However,
do not let this stop you from pursuing
your interest. There are many options
for getting into agriculture with the wide
range of work opportunities within the
industry. With this variety of options,
everyone can get involved in agriculture,
from skilled workers to college
graduates.
So, if you find yourself in an
agricultural job without an agricultural
background, here’s some tips to kickstart
your agricultural knowledge.
Research is key
With the numerous options in
agriculture, those considering a career in
agriculture should research the best field
of agriculture for them. After deciding
on pursuing a career in agriculture it
is great to network and develop those
connections. Career fairs, internships,
networking on professional social media,
and job shadowing are good places to
start. Research is one of the best ways
for those with or without an agricultural
background to gain experience and
knowledge.
Agriculture is more
than farming
The most common misunderstanding
about agriculture is that it requires 600
acres of land or 200 head of cattle to
be classified as agriculture. This is not
the case. Most jobs available are not
traditional farm positions. There are a
wide variety of career opportunities in
agriculture, food and natural resources.
You can become a biochemist, a
public relations professional, a real
estate agent, a lawyer, a drone tech, a
salesperson, or a hydrologist.
If you want to work in agriculture you
don’t have to acquire property, livestock,
machinery, etc. to enjoy that part of the
industry. For example, you could work
for an agricultural firm, with a traditional
office job, and still be classified as an
agricultural professional.
Get more from your
education
The variety of options available
in agriculture permit post-secondary
graduates to receive greater value from
their education. Those who pursue a
business degree, such as marketing,
supply chain management, accounting
or management information systems,
to mention a few, have the opportunity
to work for a variety of businesses,
including those in the agriculture sector.
The true added value of working in
agriculture, food and natural resources
is that every single employee in this field
is working to feed, clothe and fuel our
world. Not many people work full time
and believe they are making a positive
impact on the world, agriculture, on the
other hand, does make a difference
and maximizes the effort put into your
education.
Agriculture is big
BUSINESS
It takes many hands to run a business,
and an agriculture business is no
different. Employees are needed to work
on all elements of the organization and in
numerous positions. Look at technology
as an example, as technology advances,
agriculture practices are continually
shifting and employees are in demand.
Agriculture is so diversified that there
are opportunities for everyone. This
also allows individuals who do not have
exposure to agriculture to be able to fill
these open positions. The worldwide
agricultural industry’s critical nature
contributed to its stability and robust
hiring for 2021.
Experience may be
needed
While many agricultural companies
like their employees to have some form
of agricultural experience, this usually
only applies to specific positions. It is
not needed, but highly encouraged, to
network with those in the sector that you
are interested in and develop at least
some understanding of the industry.
Having some basic knowledge and
understanding will improve your chances
of acquiring the position you desire.
Researching different sectors might also
give you some insight into how much it
takes to farm 600 acres of land or keep
200 head of cattle healthy and profitable.
Where to gain
experience
There are several opportunities to
gain agricultural experience, for example,
job shadowing, internships, and career
fairs. To help you gain experience some
high schools, and post-secondary
institutions offer agricultural programs to
broaden your knowledge base.
Planting the seed now is the best
approach to becoming involved in
agriculture. Begin your investigation
into what aspect of agriculture piques
your interest. Because of the industry’s
size, there is something for everyone.
It’s always a good idea to leave the door
open to fresh possibilities since you
never know where a tiny little seed will
lead you.
AG
Photo by Donatello Trisolino on Pexels
Working in Agricultural Jobs
Without an Agricultural Background
by Allyson Herts, Marketing Intern, AgCareers.com
In 2021, AgCareers.com
had more than
56,000
job opportunities
worldwide, an increase
of approximately
30%
from the previous year.