What Is An Agronomist?

Every day, everyone is impacted by agronomy. From the fields of corn and soybeans which cover the Midwest, the vibrant yellows of sunflowers in Canada, the expansive rice paddies of Asia, the vast acres of cotton drying under the hot Southwestern sun, to the lush green mountains of coffee growing in Central America, these crops are the work of agronomists.  
From the coffee you drink to the vegetables you eat, from the ethanol-based gas in your car to the grains used to feed chicken and cattle, and from the grass on the golf course to the natural fibers of the clothing you wear and the medicines you consume, all are products of agronomy.

Agronomists make all the food, fiber, and feeds possible through the application of soil and plant sciences to crop production that incorporates the wise use of natural resources and conservation practices to produce food, feed, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceutical crops while maintaining and improving the environment.

Agronomists are plant and soil scientists who work to improve crops and agricultural productivity while effectively managing pests and weeds. In a world where natural resources are becoming ever more limited, agronomists are working on the challenges of feeding and providing plant materials in a sustainable manner.  Just a few of the current issues that agronomists are working on with farmers and producers are organics, biofuels, sustainable agriculture, nutraceuticals, and the green revolution in Africa   

Careers in Agronomy

A career in agronomy keeps you in the center of efforts to increase the production of food, feed, fuels, and fiber for a growing world citizenry. The agronomist has many career paths. You'll find agronomists working in research, teaching and extension at colleges and universities, for the USDA at their Agricultural Research Stations, in extension offices, corporations and as consultants in agribusiness.

To be an agronomist, you should have an interest in science and environmental issues. A bachelor’s degree is necessary to obtain a rewarding and productive job. In college you should enroll in agriculture, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and statistics courses, as well as general education courses, including English and speech. You should enjoy working with people and should have a keen interest in applying science to practical feed and food production issues.

The high school college preparatory curriculum that includes biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics will provide an excellent background. English, speech, and foreign language will strengthen your communication skills.

For more, see the Career Placement Center

Additional Resources

View the list of colleges and universities with courses and programs in agronomy, crop science and soil science.

For an example of how agronomists are employed, see a profile of an agronomist who works at Starbucks. Starbucks “What is an agronomist?”  on YouTube.

For detailed description of careers in agriculture, see the USDA and Purdue University USDA Living Science site.

The Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute is a program of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America that matches undergraduates with scientist-mentors during the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings. The program encourages talented students to study agronomy, crop and soil sciences while cultivating networks to develop the necessary workforce to sustain the profession.

For other career opportunities, see information on certification programs from the American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America. The purpose of a certification program is to protect the public and the profession. The same is true of our certifications. They are voluntary professional enhancements to a person's career credentials. Once certified you are telling your clients, employer, and the public that you are serious about what you do as a professional.