Overview:

A Nutrient Management/Waste Management Specialist is responsible for creating adequate means for the removal and treatment of animal and food waste from the environment.

What responsibilities will I have?

• Prepare and maintain environmental settings and regulatory compliance
• Conduct clean up following natural disasters
• Knowledge of hazardous materials and handling of those materials for clean up
• Operate heavy machinery
• Monitor processes that remove or destroy harmful materials, chemicals, and microorganisms from the water or land
• Research environmentally friendly cleaning processes
• Read meters and gauges to make sure that plant/lab equipment is working properly
• Analyze fertilizer value of applied manure, and explain site specific issues from nutrient management plans
• Manage multiple clients’ soil test and fertility needs, and scouting fields for custom chemical applications and recommendations

What education and training is required?

A bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering or agronomy is required.

To pursue a career as a Nutrient Management/Waste Management Specialist:

The following high school courses are recommended:agricultural education, a focus on science, earth science, biology, botany, chemistry, and mathematics.

Typical Employers:

Employed by food animal production companies, crop/chemical companies, and government.

Future Job Market/Outlook:

The future outlook for Nutrient Management and Waste Management Specialist is projected to be good.

Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations

• American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
• American Society of Agronomy
• Crop Science Society of America