Careers in Farming - Agriculture, Agribusiness
The US agricultural industry is the the envy of the world. There are over two million farms in America occupying nearly one billion acres of land. American farmers have learned to make the most of that vast resource of land, collectively producing more food and fiber than any country on earth.
Over 90 percent of America’s farms are owned and operated by families. Some don’t actually own the land. They lease it from a landowner and operate it as a working farm. The remaining farms are owned by corporations, big and small.
Farms average 840 acres in size, but the actual size can vary greatly. A family using intensive farming techniques can make a living from a mere 10 acres with only a couple of seasonal helpers. Farms can also be so big – thousands of acres – that it takes more than 100 workers to manage the operation.
There are many different types of farms. The most common is the cash grain farm that specializes in growing corn, soybeans, or some other grain, beans, or rice. Field crop farms produce low value items such as potatoes, sugar beets, and hay. Farms that grow vegetables, fruits, tree nuts, and nursery crops are known as high value. Livestock farms raise cattle, hogs, and poultry for meat, as well as dairy cows for milk and chickens for eggs.
The type of farm determines what the farmer does on the job. On crop farms, tasks include preparing, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, harvesting, storing and transporting to market. It’s a seasonal business that takes a rest in the cold winter months when plants can’t grow. That’s not the case for livestock, dairy, and poultry farms where farmers must feed and care for the animals on a daily basis, year round.
Most people working in the agricultural industry don’t work on farms at all. In fact, there are about 22 million people working in agriculture related fields. Unlike the agriculture of our grandparents’ day, today’s agriculture offers more than 200 rewarding and challenging careers. For example, food chemists are hard at work ensuring that the food supply is safe, nutritious, and economical. Animal breeders use their special knowledge of genetics to develop animals that are meatier, leaner, more fertile, or produce more milk.
Agriculture has certainly changed. For years, agriculture was not just a career, it was a way of life. Nearly everyone lived on the farms, and farmers were self-sufficient. The skills needed were passed down through the generations, and new workers could learn the ropes in a matter of weeks – no schooling needed. It’s a different world today. The agricultural industry is as technology oriented as any other. Learning on the job is no longer an option. There are many good jobs in agriculture, but most of them require a college degree from an agricultural school.
As American farming continues into the 21st century, the demand for knowledgeable and skilled professionals will continue to grow.
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