When it comes to choosing a college major, farm kids and city kids alike would be wise to take a good look at agriculture.

According to a recent report from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Purdue University, there are 57,900 high-skilled agricultural job openings in the U.S. each year, while only 35,400 ag students graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher annually.

“Those receiving degrees in agricultural fields can expect to have ample career opportunities,” says Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Not only will those who study agriculture be likely to get well-paying jobs upon graduation, they will also have the satisfaction of working in a field that addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

According to projections in the report, opportunities in food, agriculture, renewable resources, and environment occupations are expected to grow more than 5% between 2015 and 2020 for college graduates with bachelor’s or higher degrees. The strongest job markets are predicted for plant scientists, food scientists, sustainable biomaterials specialists, water resources scientists and engineers, precision agriculture specialists, and farm animal veterinarians. The market also looks strong for e-commerce managers and marketing agents, ecosystem managers, agriscience educators, crop advisers, and pest-control specialists.

The report says that graduates who are mobile and have work experience will have the best opportunities, as well as those with technical and professional skills who are willing to move to other states or countries. Applicants are more likely to be hired if they have had internships and job-related work experience.

Over the next five years, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy predicts an agriculture workforce shortage of as many as 100,000 jobs, according to a new report. In order to address global challenges like future food supply needs, the report calls for broader training that integrates agricultural sciences and other STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Assessing the Options



Higher education isn’t one size fits all. Depending on a student’s career goals and financial situation, community college may be the best bet. For others, a bachelor’s degree or higher will be required. Those aspiring to attain an advanced degree can get a solid start at an accredited community college, but it’s important to make sure credits will transfer.

Some community colleges have ready-made relationships with universities, making transferring and completing a four-year degree much easier. For example, Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, offers agriculture majors joint enrollment with Iowa State University, Northwest Missouri State University, or Graceland University. Students enrolled in the partnership program can attend both schools simultaneously and save a significant amount of money on a four-year degree.

Once a college or university is selected, then comes the difficult task of selecting a major. The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers 27 undergraduate ag majors, and many of those have multiple specialties available. For example, agronomy majors can choose to specialize in agroecology, crop management and business, plant breeding and biotechnology, or soil science and environmental quality.

Choosing a Path



Katie Catron, 18, of Indianola, Iowa, went through all of the options available at Iowa State and decided on a double major of agronomy and global resource systems. “I’m interested in the way our food grows all around the world and finding ways to improve it with the ultimate goal of reducing world hunger,” she says. “I don’t have a specific career in mind, but I want to work in the agriculture industry on an international level, focusing on crops in different countries.” She chose Iowa State based on its excellent reputation for agriculture and for the excitement of being on a big campus.

While Katie is in her first year at Iowa State this fall, her older brother, Alex Catron, 22, will be in his last year at Northwest Missouri State University as an agronomy major with an ag business minor. He has worked for a large crop and cattle operation while attending Northwest and also held an internship as a crop scout for Agriland FS.

“After graduation, I would like to become a certified agronomist with a co-op around the Indianola area,” he says. “Helping farmers is very important. I enjoy it, and I think I’m good at it.”

Alex says he chose Northwest because both of his parents went there and the small-town atmosphere in Maryville felt like home. Northwest also has an agricultural living and academic learning community, which houses ag students together with the goal of easing the transition to college life and allowing easy interaction with peers and mentors within the school of agricultural science.

Alex’s advice to new and future college students is to get involved and network. “Nothing is more important than getting your name out there,” he says. “Anyone you know could potentially help land you a job in the future.”

The Catrons grew up within the Indianola city limits but have roots in agriculture through their grandparents, who all farmed. They really became involved in ag when they joined FFA in high school. Their FFA adviser and agriculture teacher at Indianola High School was Casey Brown.

“The biggest thing we do as FFA advisers is expose our students to every variety of ag,” Brown says. Some of her students come into FFA with an extensive ag background, while others, like Alex and Katie, have more limited agricultural experience.

Brown encourages her students to attend Iowa FFA career development events, which focus on one specific facet of agriculture such as meat processing and judging, for example. Students learn, compete with their new skills, and see what careers are available in that area. The hope is that they discover potential careers they had never considered and possibly find their passion or something they’re really good at. “I want students to realize that agriculture isn’t just growing something on a farm,” she says. "We not only have to produce it, but also have to process it and develop changes by applying science and our experiences so ultimately we can use it.”

When helping her students plan their paths for the future, Brown says she takes many factors into consideration. She knows some students will do well in large classes held in auditoriums; others will thrive in smaller class settings with more one-on-one communication. “As their teacher and FFA adviser, I learn what their dreams are, but also about their families and their backgrounds,” she says. “If I know that a student can’t afford to go to a four-year school right away, I may suggest a different way to get them to their goal. I might say, ‘This might be what your friends are doing, but this might be better for you.’ ”

Crunching the Numbers



While everyone can agree that saving enough money for college would be ideal, it’s just not possible for most families. While they’re still in high school, students should definitely apply for all the scholarships and grants they can find. Every little bit helps when it comes to this type of investment. The more money saved and awarded, the smaller the student loans will be.

In-state students at Southwestern Community College pay $164 per credit hour, and non-Iowans and online students pay $171. For comparison’s sake, Northwest’s tuition breaks down to $305 and $516 per credit hour for residents and nonresidents; Iowa State is $295 and $852 per credit hour for residents and nonresidents. That doesn’t include other fees like room and board, activity fees, technology fees, books, and other expenses (books and technology fees are included at Northwest).

Once tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on a college education, it’s time to find a job to pay back those student loans or to restore that money to savings.

According to salary.com, a community of human resources professionals that has compiled a compensation database, the ag career that offers the highest salary is university research veterinarian with a median salary of $98,967. This type of career requires a DVM and at least five years of experience.

Botanists, forest and conservation workers, foresters, soil conservationists, and soil scientists fell within the $50,000 to $80,000 salary range. Agricultural inspectors, farm equipment mechanics, greenhouse managers, ranch managers, and wood technologists can expect to earn $30,000 to $50,000. On the lower end of the scale, forest aides, pest controllers, and veterinary assistants typically earn less than $30,000.

The Happiness Factor



While money is important, it isn’t everything. Alex Catron says he chose to go to college because it was the next logical step in his life, and he selected his major based on the future career that would make him happy. His sister made a similar decision. “You have to get a decent-paying job to make your student loan payments each month, but I really just wanted to find something I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life,” Katie says.

“I think the most important thing to remember when you’re looking for a career in ag is that there are thousands of doors. There might be one that you never thought was for you, but open that door and give it a chance,” Brown says. When a former student told her she wasn’t enjoying her ag internship, Brown told her that’s exactly why internships are important for college students. She advised, “Next summer, you’d better open another door and try something else. You know agriculture is what you want in life, and you just have to find which door is going to make you the happiest.”