It might surprise you to see a chapter in a book about careers in science technology devoted to agriculture and food. People have, after all, been farming and eating for ages-long before science. However, like every other aspect of human endeavor, science has been applied to farming and eating. Like teaching, nursing, or medicine, farming is both an art and a science.
The ancient Egyptians may have been the first to systematically apply science to agriculture. Thousands of years ago they applied hydraulic engineering on a massive scale to irrigate farmlands around the Nile. Today science is bringing hydraulics to work killing plant crop pests with boiling water rather than with chemicals that potentially pollute our food, land, and water. Science and technology have brought us better farming methods, better seed for planting, ways of conserving our soil, healthier farm animals, and safer ways of preparing and packaging food. Technicians help research, discover, and implement the knowledge that science brings us. Ironically, improvements in agricultural technology have decreased the number of people that are required to meet the nation's farming needs in actually farming the land. At the same time, greater reliance on science to improve farming techniques has meant increasing the number of people needed to supply services, particularly technological services, to the farmers. Thus, while the number of people actually farming may be decreasing, the number of people in agricultural services is increasing.
In 1992 more than 953,000 people worked in the agricultural services industry. Almost one-third (300,000) of them are self-employed. The Department of Labor classifies them in four branches:
- landscape and horticultural services
- veterinary medical services
- farm labor and management
- animal specialty services (except veterinary)
Who Do Agricultural Technicians Work for?
There are many different employment opportunities available to agricultural technologists. International corporations that operate huge farming enterprises to raise food for mass production employ technologists in many capacities. They can find work growing and raising agricultural products, working in laboratories researching better farming methods, or improving species of plants and animals.
Companies that sell goods such as seeds, fertilizers, and other supplies or farm machinery and equipment employ technicians in their sales-force, repair, and maintenance staffs as well as in laboratories testing products from seed to machinery and developing better products.
The federal and many state governments, as well as colleges and universities, employ technicians in research capacities and in delivering problem-solving advice and education in new techniques and products directly to farmers. They also have ample opportunity to travel as part of the foreign-service bringing better food supplies to developing countries.
Forty-five percent of agricultural service jobs are concentrated in California, Florida, and Texas. Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York also have large concentrations.
Salary Expectations
Agricultural technicians working in government service will be paid by set salary scales determined for technician positions. Agricultural technicians working in farm settings may be paid toward the lower end of the pay scales. Technicians working applying agricultural skills in nonagricultural settings are generally paid higher wages in both entry-level as well as experienced positions.
What Does the Agricultural Technician Do?
Agricultural technology embraces a wide variety of occupations. It encompasses diverse types of sciences such as biology, chemistry, agronomy, mineralogy, and entomology and services. It covers the technical aspects of running a farm as a business, from securing financing to marketing farm products. To outline the variety of occupations, we'll review the field systematically from raising crops and animals to bringing them to market.
SOIL CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE
Soil technicians: Raising good crops or having a healthy landscape design or vital recreational park means starting with a good basis-healthy soil. Soil technicians help in the laboratory, on farms, and in experimental farm stations, and they service land-owners in the field. In the laboratory and experimental stations, technicians aid in the study of soils trying to determine the best soils for particular plants, the effects of different fertilizers, and the results of different methods of crop rotation and other farming practices. They set up and run experiments for scientists and communicate the results in reports. Soil technicians also advise farmers, homeowners, and land developers on the best use of their soil and land and how to optimize its use. Taking the knowledge from the laboratory to the field, they can test a farmer's land, analyze its composition, and help develop a plan for its enrichment and use.
A soil technician working in private industry can enter the field at a salary range between $11,000 and $18,000. Technicians with degrees can expect to earn more than those with just farm experience.
Landscape architectural drafters: These technicians prepare detailed drawings and plans from the designs of landscape architects. In agricultural settings, plans would involve finding the best methods for grading, irrigating, draining, and planting. Their work takes them to rural farm sites as well as urban and suburban land developments. This field will grow alongside the rapid growth of shopping malls, commercial and industrial buildings, highways, and parks and recreational facilities such as ballparks and golf courses. Demands for healthier and more attractive land use and more recreational facilities for a growing population will keep this occupation interesting and challenging.
Landscape technicians: Landscape technicians work designing planted areas, whether part of a home site, community recreational area, commercial development, park, or golf course. They design planting schemes, position paths and roads, and render the designs in color or black and white sketches. Some technician work is limited to design; other technicians expand into continuing phases of land development. Some continue landscape work selecting the appropriate flowers, shrubs, and trees for the design. Others may also get involved in the actual construction of walkways and roads and the grading of land and irrigating systems.
Technicians working in ornamental horticulture can expect to start working at a salary of $13,500 to $17,000. Governmental pay scales apply when working for federal or state governmental agencies.
AGRONOMY OR PLANT SCIENCE
Plant technicians: Solving agricultural problems related to plants-such as developing better yield, a more pest-resistant and drought resistant seed, or a plant hybrid that is a more nutritional food source-is an application of many related sciences. Technicians may find work in the field or the laboratory. Careful experimentation, raising plants from different seeds and careful record keeping of growth patterns or nutritional values contribute directly to our nation's and the world's health and vitality. Solving the problem of feeding a growing world population with a sharp eye to conserving natural resources is one of the most important problems we face today. Agronomy technicians can find work in labs, maintaining sophisticated equipment, or in the fields advising farmers.
Entry-level technicians can expect to make between $12,000 and $16,000. Depending upon the prosperity of the particular industry, they may make more.
Seed analysts or farm seed specialists prepare and inspect seed before use. They ensure that the seed is free from contaminants and contains the appropriate number of seeds per volume of soil. The inspection is through laboratory microscopic examination of seed soil mix and growth of seed under laboratory conditions.
Fiber technicians test the quality of fibers and manufactured fiber products. They investigate improving methods of producing and processing plant and animal fibers for use in clothing and other manufactured products. Quality testing includes strength, tendency to fade, shrinkage, chemicals, and heat.
Horticultural technicians investigate and conduct experiments on improving all aspects of plant breeding, growing, cultivating, and harvesting for park, farm, or landscape use. Creating and selling specialty flowers and arrangements as in a floral shop are included. Greenhouse technicians fit into this category as would landscape managers for parks or large commercial or public development areas such as malls, college or university campuses, or apartment complexes.
Feed and farm management advisors. This is an educational role, offering advice to farmers or others using feed about the advances in farming techniques and improvements in feed. They may advise concerning specific problems a farmer has, such as feeding livestock and preventing the spread of a disease. They may also give advice concerning cost-saving management techniques and how to run a farm in a sound business way.
ANIMAL SCIENCE
The variety of technicians employed in animal science on farms is steadily increasing. Animal science on the farm can be considered "animal production," thus the term animal production technician is sometimes used to cover this general category. Within the category, technicians are involved in research, in breeding, and in raising and marketing healthy animals and animal products.
Animal technicians average about $12,000 to $16,000 as starting salaries. With experience their salaries can advance to much higher levels.
Animal research technicians: Just as the plant science technician can work in the laboratory or outdoors, so can the animal science technicians. Their responsibility is to help the scientist develop better ways to produce healthier farm animals and higher-quality food from those animals. Their job may involve helping to develop better housing and feeding for animals such as cows and chickens that produce eggs and dairy products. Others may concentrate on animals that themselves are food sources. Recent research in animal science has developed cows and pigs that provide leaner meat. This type of research would involve both genetics and breeding efforts in conjunction with research on animal feed. Another aspect of the technician's job would be to help educate farmers to get the most from breeding and environmental research.
Veterinary technicians: Veterinary technicians, assistants, and related personnel care for the health of farm animals and pets. They provide care directly to animals on farms and in their offices, caring for sick animals, giving inoculations, and providing other health care services. They may also conduct research, primarily concerning animal health, or work for the government inspecting animals being brought into the country for disease. They may participate in efforts to eradicate disease and test animals for disease.
Animal husbandry technicians work with animals primarily as they are a product. Technicians may become involved in research efforts to improve breeds, feeds, or environmental conditions such as housing and sanitation. The primary goals of research are to create a healthier meat product and a healthier animal in the most cost-effective ways possible.
Livestock production technicians are all those technicians involved in raising livestock. Some specific jobs in the area include the Feed mixing technician. This entry-level position mixes the feed for specific animals according to the specifications of the ration manager. The feed mixer follows the specifications as if it were a recipe calling for specific ingredients.
Dairy technicians assist scientists or technologists in experiments relating to milk and milk products, such as cheese or ice cream. They may work in improving processes of production, preservation, packaging, storage, or use.
Poultry technicians assist in the research, breeding, housing, management (incubation, brooding, disease prevention) and feeding of poultry and in the improvement of poultry products such as meat and eggs.
Artificial breeding technicians work to improve artificial insemination practices. They process and preserve semen and prepare it for use. This work demands laboratory skills, working with equipment and observational skills using a microscope.
Program of Study
First year courses include: agricultural mechanics, agricultural structures and equipment I, introduction to soil science, introduction to animal husbandry, beef production, feeds and feeding, and animal husbandry techniques. Second year courses include: meat products, farm management, introduction to agricultural machinery, agricultural structures and equipment II, forage and seed crops, animal husbandry techniques, meat animal management, livestock breeding, and animal health. In some cases farm experience may be substituted for a formal program of study when beginning an animal science technician career. A high school diploma is necessary for acceptance into the formal programs of study.
Technology has resulted in increasingly complex and sophisticated farm machinery. Farm equipment and machinery are very big investments, and trained technicians are needed in many fields to sell and service agricultural machinery.
Entry-level technicians can expect to earn about $11,000 to $ 18,000 annually, depending upon their specific employer. Experienced technicians can earn from $20,000 to $30,000, with some earning even higher salaries with consulting and research work.
Agricultural engineering technicians: Improving agricultural machinery and equipment improves productivity. These technicians are used in every step of the process. Preparing detailed drawings, building prototypes, and testing new equipment requires a working knowledge of biology, engineering, materials, and equipment. Farm, irrigation, power, harvesting and processing, soil and water conservation, and other farming equipment and hardware must perform within environmental conditions that can range from freezing to one-hundred-degree temperatures; from tornadoes to droughts. These technicians prepare engineering drawings and layouts. They review designs in conjunction with governmental regulations and standards to ensure compliance.
Equipment test technicians perform tests with prototype equipment to make sure that the equipment operates properly under the conditions of its actual usage. Farm equipment and machinery must perform consistently under differing weather conditions, such as high or low temperature or humidity, wind, rain, or snow. The materials from which the equipment is made must meet standards of strength. Power equipment must operate at required levels. Technicians test equipment in the laboratory and under actual conditions of use on experimental farms. They are responsible for accurate recording of the procedures and conditions of the test, as well as the results. They may perform tests under a variety of conditions and will repeat the tests until the desired level of confidence in the results is obtained. They are responsible for charting and communicating the information. Technicians are required to operate and often maintain a variety of laboratory and field test equipment.
Agricultural equipment technician: Agricultural equipment is expected to have a long life and perform well under rigorous conditions of use. The machinery may be very sophisticated and much of it computer controlled. Operating it correctly, keeping it maintained properly, and repairing it is a specialist's job, just as operating biomedical or aeronautical equipment is. The equipment involves complex electrical and electronic systems, thermal systems, and pneumatic systems. Water must be pumped for irrigation systems. Many feed systems are automatically controlled by computer. Milking machines operate very delicate and sophisticated pumps. Agricultural equipment technicians may have responsibility for overseeing a great number of diverse machines. In small operations they may be responsible for operating and maintaining all equipment. Most often these technicians will be part of a team of operators and mechanics and may be responsible for supervising the team.
Agricultural engineering and test technicians are most likely to be employed by equipment manufacturing companies. Equipment technicians may be employed by farms or as sales and service representatives in district offices for manufacturers or farm equipment suppliers.
The business of agriculture is very complex. There are two primary aspects of agricultural business technology. One involves applying the results of technology to the agricultural aspects of farming. The other applies science to the business dimension of farming. There are many technician jobs and many employers engaged in both of these dimensions of service to farms.
The agribusiness technician can earn from $14,000 to $18,000 as a beginning technician. The average agribusiness technician earns about $25,000 annually.
The increasing dependence of farming on advances in equipment, improved seed and feed, and fertilizing and planting techniques has meant increasing dependence on the advice of scientists and technicians working in research and product development and sales to bring them up to date on the newest and the best ways of increasing yields, conserving and nourishing land, and obtaining equipment. The content of these specialty science areas have been discussed in the previous sections of the chapter. This section will discuss the ways in which these are applied in a strictly business sense.
Field contact or field service technicians: These technicians can be thought of as agricultural buyers. Companies that buy agricultural products, whether that are meat, produce, or dairy, have a very strong interest in getting the highest quality product for the lowest price. The agricultural product is the raw material from which they create a product. The effect of starting with lower quality material cannot be reversed in the production process. Similarly, pennies in the difference of cost in the "raw material" can translate to dollars in the finished product. Technicians who buy agricultural products serve as the representatives of the company in direct contact with the farmer. Their responsibilities are extremely important in the business of agriculture. Generally their responsibilities include:
- Contracting with farmers for specific amounts of products that meet designated criteria of quality in such things as nutritional values and purity;
- Testing farm products to determine that they meet the criteria of purchase;
- Helping farmers meet the criteria in timely and cost-effective ways by giving technical advice and problem-solving strategies;
- Inspecting farms and facilities for storing produce, housing animals, and maintaining equipment to ensure compliance with sanitation requirements;
- Helping set up transportation routes to get products to processing facilities in timely fashion; and
- Organizing farm cooperatives that enable farmers to save money by sharing in the costs of their feed and fertilizers and by selling their farm products through the collective.
Distributing farm products to markets in all corners of the country and the world is a highly technical responsibility. Farmers rely on service technicians to handle the distribution of the products under very controlled conditions of temperature, sanitation, and handling to ensure they arrive fresh to their market. Very large and specialized transportation fleets are needed. This area has become a specialty area.
Purchasing agent: These technicians are the counterpart to field service technicians or buyers. Purchasing agents work for large farms, company-owned farms, or other farm services buying products needed to run the farms. Here the technicians are counted on to buy the best goods for the lowest cost. Being able to judge the quality of the products they need to buy and being able to buy at a fair or low price requires technical and business acumen. Buying in large quantities, for a farm cooperative, for instance, saves all the farmers in the cooperative money. Higher quality at lower costs means a better food bargain for everyone in the long run.
Running a Profitable Farm
How to run a farm as a profitable business has also become increasingly complex. Farmers produce not only for their families, their local areas, or even their own country, but are involved in worldwide farm markets. Producing farm products cost effectively, processing them, transporting them, and selling them is big business. The skills needed to run a farm are not just agricultural. The best of farmers can go broke if they don't have business skills. Agricultural business technicians bring knowledge of how to run businesses effectively and efficiently to the special needs of farms. The business concerns of farms are relevant at every step of the farming process. A variety of technicians' jobs are found within this large category.
Personnel
Like personnel departments in any business, these technicians handle employment applications, do the hiring, and terminate employees when needed. They work out hourly, weekly, or annual salary schedules for farm positions; benefits such as health care; and schedules for vacations. These technicians would be employed by large, corporate farms.
Management
Management of large farms requires setting up and maintaining job analyses and descriptions and identifying specified requirements for filling jobs. Budgeting, determining cash flow, and keeping everything on track are all ways that business principles are applied to farming.
Financial Services
Financial services have become a major concern in farming. Obtaining credit and mortgages for land, and borrowing for equipment and other capital investments is complex. It depends on detailed knowledge of the worth of farmland, farm animals, existing machinery, and future crops or products. These technicians would be employed primarily by banks and credit institutions that service farm areas.
Agricultural technicians of all varieties will study similar courses in a core of agricultural and basic skill subjects. Beyond that core, students may choose specialties. Below is a sample curriculum for a two year program for technicians in agricultural business studies. First year courses include: English, biology, health, physical education, introductory animal husbandry, principles of accounting, agricultural economics, microbiology, botany, introductory data processing, soil science, and principles of business. Second year courses include: marketing, agricultural commodities, farm management, general psychology, social science, agricultural finance, agricultural marketing institutions, forage and seed crops, personnel management, agricultural records, and taxation.
