Hear from a Crop Specialist / Agronomy Field Technician in the Video Below!
What is your name and occupation? Please briefly describe what your job entails (roles and responsibilities). What would you say is the most exciting part of your job? What skills should you know to be successful in your occupation? What is the minimum degree that you need to acquire for your job and/or what classes are most pertinent? What do you like best about your job?
Job Description & Primary Responsibilities:
Field Agronomists plan, budget, establish, perform and document research trials and projects as they relate to agronomic crops. Responsibilities: Field Agronomists are responsible for coordinating, budgeting, executing, performing, and reporting on agronomic crop research trials to further crop performance. They relay agronomy information to Sales Reps, DMs, dealers and key accounts through written materials, presentations, and one on one. Additionally, Field Agronomists regularly communicate with relevant industry sectors and educational institutions to initiate well targeted research projects. They also develop, conduct and evaluate tolerance for species at different stages of growth and use it to evaluate products, collect data on performance in different locations, and make recommendations to management on new releases, and position hybrids in their most favorable environment. Additionally, they must understand the farmland ( ground conditions, farming challenges, pest issues) and investigate the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and concepts to potential inventions, products and problems. Field Technicians prepare documented proposals and successfully establish research trials, and manage trial establishment and collection of data.
Recommended High School Courses:
High School Diploma
A Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, Agronomy, Soil Science or related field.
A Master’s degree or PhD in plant pathology, biotechnology, agronomy, or crop science may be required to conduct specific plant research.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
Soil Science Society of America
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants
American Society of Agronomy
Committee for Sustainable Agriculture
Crop Science Society of America
Weed Science Society of America
American Society of Plant Biologist
FOR INFORMATION ON Crop Specialist salaries, projected job growth, and more, VISIT onetonline.org.