Careers in Agriculture

Excellent Career Opportunities in Agriculture

If you have a love for the land, an interest in science, and enjoy working with both people and machines, a career in today's Agriculture may be for you.

Agriculture is the leading industry in North Dakota. Nearly 24% of North Dakota workers are farmers and ranchers or are employed in agriculture-related jobs. Average farm size is increasing, and producers are becoming more dependent on the services and skills of technicians and agribusinesses to produce efficiently and profitably.

Agriculturists Need Services

Today's farmer or rancher works with genetically improved crops, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Global Information Systems (GIS), yield monitors, and computers that pull all of this information together for more precise management. To make the best use of new technology, modern farmers and ranchers rely on the support of trained technicians, managers, dealers, and applicators.

Who provides these support services? Agribusinesses! Exciting careers in plant protection, machinery service, soil science, animal nutrition, marketing and other crop and livestock services are growing along with the new innovations in agriculture.

Education Required

Technical skills are essential for careers in both production agriculture and agribusiness. Students should have a background in the sciences, especially biology and applied physics, as well as in computer science. High school courses in Agriculture, Agriscience, and Technology Education are also a big plus. Active participation in student organizations such as FFA, 4-H and PAS will help to develop the leadership, communication, and human relations skills that are valued by employers.

Practical training is the key to success. Supervised "hands-on" experiences, such as internships, are included in most agriculture-related courses of study.

To find out about the specific programs offered on each campus, refer to pages 23-26.

For more information on agriculture-related programs, contact the agriculture instructors at any of the campuses or Doug Vannurden, Assistant Supervisor of Agriculture Education, 701-328-3179. E-mail: dvannurd@nd.gov.

What is a farmer/rancher?

A business person and an entrepreneur
A mechanical engineer
A bookkeeper, accountant, and financial planner
An environmentalist and conservationist
An animal caretaker
A computer programmer
A community leader

Technology on America's Farms and Ranches

Computers are used on 90.7% of farms/ranches.
The Internet is accessible on 77.2% of farms/ranches.
87.4% of farmers and ranchers own cellular phones.
Fax machines are used by 51.3% of farmers/ranchers.
On-line purchases are made by 25.5% of farmers and ranchers.