Reducing pollution in a farm’s water supply… Improving the efficiency of a rural electric power system… Discovering a new way to extend the life of a tomato… These are some of the projects an agricultural engineer might work on in the quest to make agricultural operations as efficient and productive as possible. Most agricultural engineers work in offices, with frequent research visits to farms, labs or rural areas. They work for government offices, engineering firms, universities and manufacturers. The ultimate goal for these engineers is to improve crop and livestock production. This career focuses on the design and manufacture of the equipment and facilities needed to reach that goal. Agricultural engineers examine the impact of plant and food production on the greater environment, and look for ways to reduce negative impacts. Sometimes they even make news headlines with breakthroughs on production techniques, such as genetic engineering and cloning. Agricultural engineers need an aptitude for science and technology, along with good oral and written communication skills. They rely heavily on their ability to recognize and solve problems. A bachelor’s degree in agricultural or biological engineering is the entry-level education needed. As the world population continues to expand, the need for the work of agricultural engineers will only continue to grow.
What they do:
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
On the job, you would:
Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
Engineering and Technology
product and service development
design
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
physics
Arts and Humanities
English language
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
food production
Basic Skills
thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Verbal
listen and understand what people say
read and understand what is written
Ideas and Logic
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
notice when problems happen
Math
add, subtract, multiply, or divide
choose the right type of math to solve a problem
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Analytical Thinking
Integrity
Dependability
Initiative
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Computer aided design CAD software
Autodesk AutoCAD
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Oracle Database
bachelor's degree or certificate after college usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
In the military:
see titles from the Army.
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