It is easy to dismiss agriculture as a ‘boring’ field of study, but if we take a moment to pause, agriculture is at the center of our lives and livelihoods. The food you purchase or raw ingredients that you use in your cooking are all a result of agriculture and all the technology that goes behind it. A career in agriculture can also be very meaningful and fulfilling if you enjoy not just watching food grow but enjoy developing technologies that make agriculture production even better.
What is an Agriculture degree?
According to Times Higher Education, agriculture is both the theoretical study and practical application of farming, such as the cultivation of cereals. Following inventions and innovations ranging from the seed drill to fertilising crops by drone, the past few centuries have seen farming become a science.1
The United States is known to be among the Top 5 agricultural producing countries in the world together with China, India and Brazil.2 The US is also known for its agriculture science and provides some of the most advanced agriculture technology in the world.2
Why study Agriculture in the US?
Studying agriculture in the US means that you’ll be working in an important industry that is both considered to be fast-moving and high-tech. Courses in animal science, food production, horticulture, property management, environmental preservation and zoology are all areas explored within agriculture.3
If you are someone who enjoys Mathematics and Science, Agriculture might be the right choice for you! An agriculturist needs to be able to find a problem, create a plan, develop a method, execute and test the plan, and have the patience and dedication to carry through the process.3 Mathematics skills are needed throughout the field of agriculture as agriculturalists will be collecting and analysing data, optimising the conditions for plants to grow, or determining the amount of yield you want to produce.1
When studying agriculture, some courses you may be studying include animal and/or plant biology, chemistry, physical science, genetics, animal nutrition, human nutrition, animal reproduction and soil science. The math courses will most likely include economics. You can expect the subject matter will be varied and hands-on.4
What are some career options after completing a degree in Agriculture?
CareerOneStop provides a list of occupations in Agriculture as shown below.5 Clicking the links will lead you to more information on each occupation, including a different career video on how it’s like to work in the specific occupation. Note that this is a US-based resource and some roles may not exist in Malaysia, due to the US having a more advanced agriculture sector.
- Agricultural Engineers
- Agricultural Inspectors
- Agricultural Technicians
- Precision Agriculture Technicians
- Agricultural Equipment Operators
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Farm and Home Management Educators
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
- Environmental Economists
- Natural Sciences Managers
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products
- Customs and Border Protection Officers
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
- Sales Engineers
- Lodging Managers
Sources:
1https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/subjects/what-can-you-do-agriculture-degree
2https://www.tractorjunction.com/blog/top-10-agricultural-producing-countries-in-the-world
3https://www.internationalstudent.com/study-agriculture/is-a-degree-in-agriculture-right-for-you
4https://www.internationalstudent.com/study-agriculture/what-to-expect-studying-agriculture
5https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=agriculture&location=USA
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