Nature of Work

Agriculturalists are the foundation of the food, fiber, ornamental horticulture, and biofuels industry.  Employment in this industry includes agricultural producers of all types: farmers, ranchers, nursery and greenhouse growers, along with researchers, buyers, sales people, consultants, etc., all of whom work together to provide safe, affordable agricultural goods, while maintaining a profitable business.  

Agricultural companies can be small or large; some producers are sole proprietors who plant, cultivate, harvest, and sell their crops to local consumers, maintaining their own equipment and making all the management decisions.  On the other end of the spectrum, an agriculturalist can be an employee of a large corporation who manages just one small portion of a much larger business. 

Regardless of the size of the organization, all agriculturalists need to have a good comprehension of life sciences so they can understand how to grow the crop and implement the appropriate business practices so they will have a financially sound business.  This diversified nature of the industry requires agriculturalists to have a grasp of many subjects: biology, mechanics, electricity, computers, finance, leadership, and problem solving. 

Agriculture is a rewarding industry, allowing an individual to nurture a crop from infancy to harvest, supply customers with safe crops that help nourish and clothe them, and make sound financial decisions for a profitable business.  There are positions that allow a person to work in the outdoors or inside at a desk, and opportunities extending from an entrepreneurial venture to corporate CEO.