Industrial Agriculture Career Options and Requirements
Industrial agriculture, commonly known as commercial agriculture, involves producing crops and livestock in a large-scale operation. Many individuals in this field work independently as entrepreneurial farmers.
Job Profile
Commercial farming is a diverse field that includes crop and livestock production, farm supervision and food systems management. Farmers involved in crop production might grow grains, tobacco, cotton and fruits and vegetables. Livestock farmers might raise poultry, pigs or cattle for beef. Livestock production may also involve using animals to produce products such as dairy or eggs. Some commercial farms focus on a single crop or livestock, while others produce a mix of crops and animal products.
Responsibilities
Farmers often work more hours during planting and harvesting seasons, when compared to the rest of the year. The work will involve planting, harvesting, running farm equipment or leading crews of farm workers. Tasks such as harvesting vegetables usually involve manual labor, including bending and lifting the harvested food. Farm managers risk pesticide exposure and injury from large, mechanical farming equipment.
Education and Essential Skills
While farmers aren't required to complete any formal education or training, many farm and ranch managers seek a college level agricultural degree. Several schools offer associate or bachelor's degrees in agriculture. These degrees vary based on the student's area of interest. Agricultural degree programs may include courses in agricultural science, research, farming law, finance and ranch or farm management. Some schools offer agricultural internships that provide students with experience in the field.
Career Opportunities
Individuals interested in commercial farming may pursue a number of specialties. Agricultural science focuses on food production management, food chemistry and agricultural education. Agribusiness focuses on the economics of farm management, as well as marketing food products and complying with state and federal agencies. Agricultural mechanization focuses on the machines that help produce food on a commercial scale. Knowledge in animal science provides a foundation for livestock support and production.
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Alabama (2 campuses)
- Arkansas (1)
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 22 years of age or older
School locations:
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- Master
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
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School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must have either two or more years of college or active military status if you are under 24 years of age
School locations:
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- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
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- Georgia (1 campus)
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Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Colorado (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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School locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Agriculture
- Agricultural Business
- Agribusiness Operations
- Agricultural Economics
- Farm and Ranch Management
- Agriculture Production
- Animal Science
- Food Sciences and Technologies
- Plant Science
- Soil Science
- Agricultural Business
