Career of an Agronomist

Agronomy is the study of plants and soil and their surrounding agricultural environment. It represents the disciplines of crop and soil science. Agronomists are mainly concerned with efforts to increase the supply of high- quality food, fiber crops, and feed while at the same time preventing erosion, and protecting and preserving the environment. A growing number of agronomists are studying the effects of pesticides on plants and soils, and are looking for more environmentally friendly ways to protect crops from insects. While agronomists have been considered simple farmers for centuries, their work is now highly specialized and very technical. Agronomists work closely with chemists, mathematicians, entomologists, biologists, and geologists to improve the quality and quantity of food output. Agronomists have helped make the United States the leading exporter of food fiber and livestock in the world. More importantly, crop production methods and technology developed by agronomists in the United States are used in Third World countries where population pressures have strained traditional food production methods and contributed to malnutrition and famine. Because 1 thousand children worldwide die of malnutrition each hour, the search for better and more reliable sources of food is a priority that agronomists are pursuing with vigor.

Agronomists concentrate in two areas of specialization: crop science and soil science. Crop scientists study plants and soil to increase the production food, feed, and fiber. They also study ways to improve the nutritional value of crops and the quality of seed. Many crop scientists study the breeding, physiology, and management of crops and use genetic engineering to develop crops that are resistant to drought and insects. Soil scientists study the chemical, physical, mineralogical, and biological composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. Many soil scientists concentrate their investigations in the areas of soil fertility, soil mineralogy, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil, management. They study the responses of various soil types to fertilizers, crop rotation, and tillage practices and advice farmers on land-use practices and ways to avoid or correct erosion problems.

Educational Requirements



The minimal educational requirement for a career in agronomy is a bachelor of science (BS) degree; however, many students entering the field today have completed a master's or Ph.D. degree program. According to the American Society of Agronomy, 129 college and university degree programs offer a bachelor's degree in agronomy or a closely related field. Each state supports a public land grant university whose focus is on agricultural and forestry studies, and most of these schools offer advanced degrees in agronomy. Farming-dependent states, particularly those in the South, Midwest, and far West have the best agricultural science programs; however, not all schools provide specialized concentrations in agronomy. Contact your school of interest to find out if it offers a specialization that interests you.

Students are required to complete the core science requirements, including chemistry, biochemistry, biology, and botany, in addition to general school requirements of math, economics, humanities, and business courses. Within each program, students can specialize in a variety of areas. Specific crop and soil science courses may include plant pathology, plant physiology, entomology, genetics, soil chemistry, meteorology, and microbiology. Students spend a substantial portion of their classroom hours in the laboratory or conducting field studies. Many schools require students to complete a field project or technical thesis. Advanced students must often conduct innovative field research and write a publishable report based on their work.

Special Certification

The American Society of Agronomy offers the American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops, and Soils. This registry establishes standards for the practice of agronomy and holds members to a code of ethics. To qualify, members must have a certain combination of work and educational experience. Contact the society for information on testing procedures and personal requirements.

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