Professional Development

Are you considering your professional development options in agriculture? Penn State Extension has a vast range of resources you can use to advance your agricultural career. Find out about specialization, additional training, best jobs in agriculture, leadership, and more. Keep abreast of the latest agricultural career outlook.

Careers in Agriculture: Job Outlook

Agriculture is an exciting industry in Pennsylvania and across the world. It uses cutting-edge technology, it is continuously innovating, and it is an essential contributor to economies.

Employment of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers is projected to decline 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, apart from a few areas such as organic farming.

The reason is the increased efficiencies in crop production and the consolidation into fewer but larger farm operations. In turn, larger farms are able to invest more in technologies and innovations, optimizing their productivity.

Despite projected employment declines, about 80,900 openings for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

For agricultural workers, on the other hand, the projections are that employment is unlikely to change much over the next decade. Despite increased demand for crops and other agricultural products, employment growth is expected to be tempered at 1%.

So, what career opportunities are there in the agriculture field, aside from being a farmer? Here are some of the jobs with a positive employment outlook.

• Agricultural engineers
• Agricultural and food scientists
• Veterinarian technicians
• Soil and plant scientists
• Agricultural managers
• Agricultural equipment/supplies and sales

For those interested in an organic career, the following opportunities are available:

• Organic farmer or rancher
• Organic agricultural manager
• Organic niche retailer
• Organic handler
• Organic certifying agent

Investing in continuous education and training is a winning strategy for successful careers in agribusiness.

Leadership and Professional Development in Agriculture

There is a significant need for effective leaders in agriculture. Individual skills, attitudes, and habits are needed if you want to be a good leader. If you’re not a natural, leadership professional development workshops can help you develop the necessary skills.

Let’s not forget, you can’t be an effective leader without the right team behind you. To create a powerful team, you must alleviate farm stress and cultivate a productive mindset. Strategies to provide better mentoring practices and the ability to keep your team motivated are also crucial.

Agriculture is an industry that’s continually changing, and managers must remember that it is impossible without changes at an individual level. This is the only way to help your team overcome their resistance to change.

You can revitalize, energize, and empower your workforce by introducing workplace learning. On-farm training can be useful because it ensures a greater understanding of how work should be done. Training should be available for all, including the Hispanic workforce, which has become the primary labor force for dairy production, for example.