54,000 New Undergraduate Workers Needed Annually in Agriculture Sector

Nov 22, 2012

U.S Department of Agriculture Projects Need for More Skilled Workers in Agriculture

With a growing global population projected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050, plus record-high exports for U.S agriculture products – the need for skilled workers in the agriculture sector has seen a tremendous increase over the last decade. While the umbrella term “agriculture” encompasses many different professions, there is certainly a demand for more skilled agricultural workers across the sector, according to a USDA report.

There is growing demand for scientists and chemists to work within the agrochemical industry, producing everything from new fertilizers to better pest controls. The same demand is true for scientists who contribute to research and development around genetically modified organisms, including new methods for plant-based pest controls and drought resistant crops.

Traditional on-farm labour jobs have been declining over time as the advent of new technology has decreased and the demand for man power in the fields. That being said, the demand for engineers to develop new agricultural technology has never been greater.

If you’re a student still wondering what you would like to do with your career, consider all the opportunities that are available in the agricultural industry and consider training and education that would foster an in-demand, high-paying career. Veterans are also encouraged to look towards agriculture as a new career path, with government programs already in place to help the transition.

There are some great agriculture employment resources available online that you can utilize to find out what types of agriculture related jobs are available in your area and what skills may be required to obtain them. AgCareers.com for example, provides job seekers and employers a platform to post jobs and resumes, plus agricultural industry workforce compensation information and agricultural human resource services.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.