Download - Agricultural Science Grade 7
Agricultural ScienceGrade 7
Week 4
Lesson 1
Topic: Careers in agriculture
Objectives:
1. For students to be aware of the various careers available in the field of agriculture
2. List career opportunities within each branch of agriculture
3. Differentiate between the production and non-production careers
Agricultural CareersMany diverse careers are found in agriculture.
People working in agriculture play a hand in feeding the world sustainably.
Off-farm agricultural careers are important and integral to sustainability. The people in these careers do many things, such as: ◦ Improve efficiency in food production.
◦ Discover and help implement new best management practices to be used in agriculture.
◦ Educate and communicate to the public about the source of our food.
◦ Help minimize food waste and hunger.
Agricultural economists have management-related jobs in agribusiness firms.
They use modern analytical management tools to make profitable decisions.
Agricultural economists conduct financial analysis, develop marketing plans, and
set up optimal production schedules in food and fiber firms. Most agricultural
economists spend a great deal of their work lives analyzing alternative decisions.
Agribusiness firms that provide such things as feed, seed, fertilizer or capital,
and those that process and distribute agricultural products, employ agricultural
economists. Feed, seed, and fertilizer firms; rural banks; and input cooperatives
employ agricultural economists to manage their operations. Many agricultural
economists work for wholesale and retail food processing firms.
Agricultural Economist
Agronomist◦ Agronomists deal with field crops and soil management. They develop new varieties of
crops, analyze soil structure, investigate soil chemistry, and study the physics of water
movement in soil. Agronomists are concerned with the environment. You will find
agronomists teaching, conducting business, and doing research in all parts of the food
industry all around the world.
◦ Agronomists work for banks, farm co-ops, and crop management companies.
Agronomists are hired as crop consultants by farmers or by seed, fertilizer, and
agrichemical companies. Some are forecasters, environmentalists, analysts, or teachers.
Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural engineers apply basic science and engineering principles as they
design solutions to engineering problems in agricultural production. Agricultural
engineers design agricultural machinery and facilities such as tractors, implements,
housing, storage and handling facilities, irrigation and drainage systems, and soil
conservation measures.
To be an agricultural engineer, you should enjoy solving problems and have the
ingenuity to envision new designs or solutions. You must understand physical and
chemical principles well enough to apply them as you solve problems.
Botanist (Plant Biologist)A botanist (plant biologist) studies tiny microorganisms and giant trees -- all plant life. Botanists who
like to be outdoors may be plant explorers. They may study the effects of pollution (such as acid rain)
on plants and work toward environmental protection, or they may identify new plant species and
evaluate their parts and uses. Some botanists produce entire plants from single cells with a technique
called tissue culture. Others use biotechnology to develop new or unproved plants.
Educational institutions hire botanists as teachers and researchers. Some botanists work in botanical
gardens, arboretums, herbaria, zoos, and medical plant or germplasm resources laboratories. Others
work in plant-related industries such as biological supply houses, biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical
companies, nursery or greenhouse businesses, and petrochemical companies. Some work in
publication, sales, or animal or plant health inspection.
HorticulturistThe Latin words hortus (garden plant) and culture (culture) together form horticulture, classically defined as the culture
of garden plants. But today horticulture is more than garden plant culture. Horticulturists work in crop production,
plant propagation, plant breeding and genetic engineering, plant physiology, plant biochemistry, storage, processing,
and transit (of fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and turf). They improve crop yield, quality,
nutritional value, and resistance to insects, diseases, and environmental stresses. They make plants more adaptable to
different climates and soils and better fit for food uses or processes. And they grow and improve plants used for
medicines or spices.
Horticulturists can work in industry, government, or educational institutions. They can be cropping systems engineers,
wholesale or retail business managers, propagators and tissue culture specialists (fruit, vegetables, ornamentals, and
turf), crop inspectors, crop production advisors, extension specialists, plant breeders, research scientists, and educators.
You will find horticulturists in offices, laboratories, greenhouses, and out in production or research fields.
HydrologistHydrologists help protect our water supplies
and water quality. Hydrologists concerned
with water supplies manage surface and
ground water to avoid problems caused by
floods, droughts, and population growth.
Hydrologists working on water quality
problems deal with the chemical, physical,
biological and radiological properties of
water we use for drinking, irrigation,
industrial cooling or swimming.
Marine Scientist
Marine scientists address problems and issues facing marine life. They
systematically gather data in the field or laboratory with special sampling
gear and monitoring equipment. They interpret and evaluate the data they
collect, then write scientific reports for clients or supervisors. They may
also help make decisions or solve problems. Sometimes they deal with
problems of great economic or political importance
Nutritionist/Dietician
Nutritionists/dieticians help people look and feel good by making the
connection between food, nutrition and health. They can be teachers,
researchers, healthcare workers or managers. Some work with doctors,
nurses or therapists to speed patients' recoveries. Some counsel families,
the elderly, pregnant women, children, and disabled or underprivileged
people. Others direct experiments to find alternative foods or diet
recommendations. A nutritionist/dietician might offer advice on weight
loss, cholesterol reduction or other diet-related concerns.
Veterinarian
Most veterinarians work in private practices where they diagnose, treat,
and help prevent disease and disabilities in animals. The DVM (doctor of
veterinary medicine) degree, however, opens up many career choices.
Veterinarians can be practitioners, researchers, public servants,
administrators, and teachers. They may work with one or more species of
animals, or with additional training, in a clinical specialty such as
cardiology, surgery, or neurology. Veterinarians safeguard human health
by controlling diseases that can spread from animals to humans.
Reference:https://www.slideshare.net/MichaelPruden1/agriculture-careers
http://ww1.glenrosearkansasffa.com/
https://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/matrix/lessonplan.cfm?lpid=588
https://slideplayer.com/slide/6221371/72/video/Agricultural+Careers+Presented+by
%3A+Marie+O.+Bolt.mp4
https://youtu.be/yiD_P4RHzg8
https://youtu.be/XRZJpS6THi8
How many jobs did it take to produce your food?
Cheese
Dairy Farmer
Animal Geneticist
Animal Nutritionist
Mechanic
Crop Farmer
Insurance Provider
Soil Scientist
Bank Loans Officer
Truck Driver
Engineer
Hydrologist
Food Scientist
Processing Plant
Manager or Worker
Veterinarian
Inspector
Plant Geneticist Feed or
Seed Store Manager
Teacher or
Professor
1. Ice Cream Cone2. Eggs3. Bread4. Apples5. Orange Juice6. Tomatoes7. Hamburger8. Bacon9. Peanuts10.Potatoes
Grocery List
Milk
Dairy Farmer
?
?
?
?
? ?
??
Look at the previous slide and note the connectivity between careers. Insert all the careers and products that will contribute to your dairy beverages, starting with the Farmer.
Home WorkMake a portfolio with careers under the following headings. Kindly include level of education needed, photographs and identify one person that worked in that area.
1. Forestry
2. Animal Health/Public Health
3. Animal Science
4. Aquaculture
5. Agricultural Engineering
6. Food Science
7. Agronomy
8. Crop Science
9. Agricultural Education
10. Agricultural Economics