The agriculture field is one of the biggest employers, employing over 155 million people in the United States. What do you think about when you hear the word “agriculture?” Many people would say farming, but this is not the most common occupation in this field. Farmers make up a fraction of the agricultural jobs at 900,000, but over 2.1 million people own, rent, and claim farming as a primary source of income. The average farm size has dropped from 460 acres in 1990 to 418 acres in 2007, while the average age of this occupation rose to 57, making this one of the older workforces in the United States.
Education and work conditions required for this job changed considerably. It used to be that growing up on a farm and learning as you go was the primary source of education and job experience. Now days with advancements in the field, like auto steer, depth control, and field mapping, a post secondary education is a must have. Most high school graduates go on to complete a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree at a college of agriculture. For example, the University of Nebraska Lincoln (a four-year college) and Southeast Community College (a two-year college) both have special agricultural programs that pinpoint this key area. After completing and obtaining a degree, continuing education is very important. Research and development is always coming up with innovative ideas and techniques to implement into your farm. Keeping up with the new and improved ways may require personnel to go to a training seminar, or a class that is instructed by the manufacture or a company.
Another very positive point to this job is the versatility of where this job is present. All over the country you can some kin...
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United States Department of Labor. (2011, June 9). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011. Retrieved February 14, 2012, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.bls.gov/oco/ocos176.htm#training
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• California Department of food and agriculture (2014). California Agricultural Production Statistics Retrieved from http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/
A. “Farm Policy.” CQ Researcher 10 Aug. 2012: 693-716. Web. The Web. The Web.
In 1919, farmers from thirty states, including Missouri, saw a need. They gathered in Chicago and formed the American Farm Bureau Federation. In 1919, they had one goal, they wanted to speak for themselves with the help of their own national organization. Since 1919, Farm Bureau has operated by a philosophy that states: “analyze the problem of farmers and develop a plan of action for these problems” (Missouri). In the past 94 years, the A...
...o. “The Great Agricultural Transition: Crisis, Change, and Social Consequence of the Twentieth Century US Farming”. Annual Review of Sociology 27 (2001): 103-124.
by Donald M. Fisk Bureau of Labor Statistics This article was originally printed in the Fall 2001 issue of Compensation and Working Conditions.
"John Deere's Bio." Johns Deere's Bio. Deere & Company, 10 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 May 2010. .
The idea of the family farm has been destroyed by large food corporations. As discussed in class, industrial farming typically leads to the mass produ...
“The farm implement industry has profoundly shaped both American agriculture and the national economy. Of all farm implements, the tractor has had the greatest impact on rural life” (Robert C. Williams, qtd. in Olmstead).
The. Interview. The. 28 Nov. 2013. “Occupational Employment Statics” www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211.htm Bureau of Labor Statics, 29 Mar. 2013. The. Web. The Web.
Agriculture is not all work and no play. Many advances can be made in the understanding of agriculture by making available a variety of methods to provide children with a hands-on experience and also educating all individuals about the importance of the practice. The ignorance of urban communities can be overcome with the help of organizations and people within the community. School visits, hands-on experiences, volunteers and organizations are just a few examples of the steps that can be taken to educate Americans about agriculture and close the gap between rural and urban populations.
United States Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2015. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291031.htm
The education for an agronomist is a four year bachelor degree at a university. There are many agricultural universities throughout Illinois such as University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Western Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. There are many out of state as well such as Purdue University, Texas A&M, and Iowa State University. The cost of these schools are not cheap. They range from eight thousand dollars to twenty-nine thousand dollars per year. There also grants available from SARE and the USDA for agriculture students to help pay for these expenses. An agronomist must also renew their agronomy certification every two years (Agriculture Purdue).
It is estimated that 37 farmers leave the land every day to pursuit in different field (Herro 2006). The decline in rural farmers is from the consequences of industrialization of agriculture. Only 1 percent of the UK workforce is now employed on farm, compared to 35 percent in the last century (Herro 2006). Many of these workers are being weaved out by better technologies that can do the same work at a faster and more efficient rate. On the contrary, organic farming relies more on people for knowledge, daily monitoring, and production. A study by the Soil Association shows organic farming can potentially provide 32 percent more jobs per farm than conventional farming in the United Kingdom (Herro 2006). However, critics have argued that human labors will lead to higher food prices, which makes the shift infeasible. But while this may be true in developed country, a full scale shift to organic farming in developing countries, where labors are much cheaper than pesticides, can lead to a much higher profit for the farmers. Organic farming attracts younger employees than any other work industry. Currently, the average age for conventional farmer is 56 (Herro 2006). If a full scale shift to organic farming were to happen, it would draw a more vibrant and enthusiastic workforce who are food conscious than that older generations, setting up a platform
“Summary” Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Actuaries, 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Actuaries, 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
...ns of people since it first began. Through hundreds of years it has evolved into what it is known for today. Farming is a difficult job that requires a wide variety of skills. It is not difficult to begin a career in the agricultural field, but it is difficult to be successful. Farming is a great job but it requires a lot of hard work. As Weaver previously stated, “I love my job more and more everyday!”