Agronomist

Agronomists deal with field crops and soil management. They develop new varieties of crops, analyze soil structure, investigate soil chemistry, and study the physics of water movement in soil. Agronomists are concerned with the environment. You will find agronomists teaching, conducting business, and doing research in all parts of the food industry all around the world.

Agronomists work for USDA, state departments of agriculture, the Soil Conservation Service, and as agriculturists in foreign countries. They work for banks, farm co-ops, and crop management companies. Agronomists are hired as crop consultants by farmers or by seed, fertilizer, and agrichemical companies. Some are forecasters, environmentalists, analysts, or teachers.

To be an agronomist, you should have an interest in science and a bachelor's degree. In college take agriculture, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and statistics courses, as well as broad-based general education courses, including English and speech. You should enjoy working with people and should have a keen interest in applying science to the food industry.

In high school take biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Take English and speech to improve your communication skills. Farm experience can be helpful, but it is not necessary.

-- Gerald W. Brown, Northwest Missouri State University