Top 10 Reasons Why you Should NOT Laugh at Agriculture

Courses

1. No.1 Philippine exports came from Agricultural

commodities.

2. The Food you eat everyday made from plants or animals.

3. Agriculture happens to be one of the top 10 hardest board

exam.

4. Agriculture students learn new innovative way to enhance

food production.
5. Agriculture students happen to answer some questions
from ordinary farmers.

6. Agriculture graduates can be self-sufficient without having a

job.

7. Agriculture is business.

8. Agriculturist are business people.

9. Agriculturist can grow food and raise animals organically.

10. Agriculture is not just a science, it is a way of life.

Ctto : Albert Lastimosa
 What is Agriculture

• agriculture (n.)
• mid-15c., "tillage, cultivation of large areas of
land to provide food," from Late Latin
agricultura "cultivation of the land," a
contraction of agri cultura "cultivation of
land," from agri, genitive of ager "a field" +
cultura "cultivation"
 AGRICULTURE
• Definition of agriculture
: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the
soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in
varying degrees the preparation and marketing
of the resulting products.

By: Merriam Webster

• the science, art, or occupation concerned with
cultivating land, raising crops, and feeding,
breeding, and raising livestock; farming.

• the business, science, or activity of farming

• Agriculture is not crop production as popular
belief holds - it's the production of food and
fiber from the world's land and waters.
Without agriculture it is not possible to have a
city, stock market, banks, university, church or
army. Agriculture is the foundation of
civilization and any stable economy.
• Allan Savory
 Five Branches of Agriculture

1. Agronomy
2. Agriculture Engineering
3. Horticulture
4. Agricultural Economics
5. Animal Science
 Importance of Agriculture
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the life of
an economy. It is the backbone of our economic
system. Agriculture not only provides food and
raw material but also employment opportunities
to a very large proportion of population.
1. Source of Livelihood
2. Contribution to National Income
3. Supply of Food and Fodder
4. Importance in International Trade
5. Marketable Surplus
6. Source of Raw Material
7. Importance in Transport
8. Contribution to Foreign Exchange Resources
9. Vast Employment Opportunities
10. Overall Economic Development
11. Source of Saving
12. Source of Government Income
13. Basis of Economic Development
Career Oppurtunities in Agriculture
 8 Types of agricultural careers
1. Agriculture mechanics
2. Agriculture engineers
3. Agribusiness
4. Agricultural communications
5. Agricultural economics
6. Agricultural agronomy
7. Animal Sciences
8. Food sciences
• Assembly Technician
• Animal Geneticist
• Automation Coordinator/Technician
• Precision Agriculture Specialist
• Service Writer
• Food Engineer or Structural Engineer
• Geospatial Analytics Scientist
• Sanitary/Waste Handling/Environmental Engineer
• Software Engineers and Software Architects
• Agricultural Lobbyist
• Cotton Gin and Warehouse Manager
• Crop Adjuster
• Grain Elevator Manager
• Account Manager
• Regional Sales Manager
• Food Distribution Manager
• Environmental Specialist
• Greenhouse Manager
• Soil Scientist/Soil Conservationist
• Seed Production Agronomist
• Weed Scientist
• Apiary Worker/Beekeeper
• Artificial Insemination Technician
• Livestock Hauler
• Livestock Procurement/Buyer
• Livestock Production Manager
• Food Product Research and Development
• Quality Assurance
• Food Chemist/Microbiologist/Researcher
• Farm Business Manager/Accountant
• Farm Production Manager
• Design Engineer or Machine Design Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Agricultural Policy Analyst
• Crop or Agriculture Insurance Agent
• Feed Sales/Management
• Livestock Feedlot Operator
• Technician
• Veterinarian
• Brand Manager
• Market News or Farm News Journalist/Reporter
• Irrigation Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Parts Manager
• Agriculture Financial Service Representative
• Advisor Government/Stakeholder Relations
• Feed Mill Manager
• Grain Buyer
• Agricultural Lender
• Economist Consultant
• Viticulturist
• Ranch/Farm Hand
• Rendering Truck Driver/Rendering Maintenance
• Bioprocessing Engineer
• Sales Representative for Equipment
• Agriculture Lawyer
• Food Manufacturing
• Public Relations Representative
•
1. Agriculture Mechanics.
The field of agriculture mechanics is vast and
includes several skilled jobs. You may want to consider a
career as a technician, scientist, manager, or engineer.
a. Assembly Technician
You will assemble the various parts of agriculture
equipment. You will also be responsible for the
assembling of the main machines used in agriculture.
b. Automation Coordinator/Technician
Computer and robotic system control are your
responsibility. This includes all installations, maintenance
and operation of the automated equipment used in the
agriculture industry.
c. Electrician/Electronics Technician
The wiring and maintenance of various mechanical
equipment is the electrician/electronics technician's responsibility.
The jobs may be working for a specific manufacturer or a traveling
position that supports company equipment and machine
customers.
d. Hydraulics Technician
A hydraulics Technician oversees and implements the
installation of hydraulic equipment and its components. You will
also be in charge of all maintenance and repairs.
e. Maintenance/Service Technician
The maintenance/service technician will travel to different
locations to repair agriculture equipment, such as farming
equipment and lawn/garden machines. You'll be responsible for
diagnosing the problem and executing a repair to restore normal
usage. You'll service diesel and gas engines and transmissions.
f. Mechanical Engineer
Your duties as a mechanical engineer are
centered on various machinery. You will most likely
work for an agriculture machine manufacturer,
designing machines and solving problems
associated with various agriculture industry
machinery and equipment.
g. Parts Manager
In your job as a parts manager, you'll be
responsible for your company's product inventory.
You'll need a thorough knowledge of
equipment/machinery warranties. You will serve
and support company customers.
h. Precision Agriculture Specialist
Your duties as a precision agriculture
specialist include supporting growers. This mean
you'll be available to help farmers resolve any
technical issues that come up while using precision
technologies.
i. Service Writer
A service writer supports the service
department and the department manager. You'll be
responsible for maintaining the documentation and
service records on company agriculture products.
2. Agriculture Engineers
One area of agriculture that requires an advanced
degree within a field of engineering is agricultural
engineering. Agriculture requires the extensive use of
machinery, buildings, water lines, and waste
management, all which require expert knowledge to keep
the food supply safe. Engineers in the agriculture industry
include, positions of designing equipment and machines.
a. Bioprocessing Engineer
Bioprocessing engineering (biochemical
engineering) is a career specialty in biological or chemical
engineering. You will focus on designing equipment and
developing processing for agriculture, manufacturing
food, nutraceutical, feed, chemicals, bioreactors,
pharmaceuticals, equipment, etc.
b. Design Engineer or Machine Design Engineer
You will design various major component and
their subsystems for agriculture equipment. This
will include all design specifications. You will
collaborate with various departments, such as
product management, production/manufacturing
and the sales/marketing departments.
c. Electrical Engineer
Your job as an electrical engineer will be to
install, service/repair and create various electrical
operations. You may work in various areas of the
agricultural industry and will use technology
specific to the industry.
d. Food Engineer or Structural Engineer
A food engineer designs various components and equipment
in the agricultural industry. You'll use CAD (Computer Aided Design)
technology. You might choose a career developing and designing food-
processing plants, or you may decide on a career as a manufacturing
operations supervisor. There are many career paths, especially for a
structural engineer, such as designing structures for processing and
storing crops or structures for housing animals. Depending on the
employer, you may only need a high school diploma or GED and over
five years of experiences. Other employers require a bachelor's degree
in mechanical engineering or industrial systems engineering.
e. Geospatial Analytics Scientist
Your position as a geospatial analytics scientist requires you to
extract GPS data and then assess it. You'll also need to integrate and
manipulate this data along with various databases in and effort to
improve the performance and function of various precision agriculture
software platforms. You'll need a master's degree in agricultural
engineering, geographic information systems, civil engineering, or
computer science.
f. Irrigation Engineer
An irrigation engineer is responsible for analyzing, planning,
designing, and implementing agricultural irrigation systems. This can range
from crops to canals and even dams. Depending on the job, you'll be required
to have a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering and/or civil
engineering.
g. Sanitary/Waste Handling/Environmental Engineer
A sanitary and waste handling engineer may also be an
environmental engineer. Waste management is vital to any agricultural
process. You will be responsible for analyzing, planning, designing, and
implementing various disposal processes as well as waste collection and
recycling. A bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, processing
engineering, or other engineering science.
h. Software Engineers and Software Architects
Software engineers are also needed as more and more machinery
becomes automated. Some of the design specialties include revision control
systems and automated systems. Software architects are needed to develop
and implement client server architecture. You'll need a bachelor's degree in
computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or related
technical fields.
3. Agribusiness
The business of agriculture has some jobs similar to other industry
models. However, the focus of these business positions is on the production
of food, either through crops or animals.
a. Agriculture Financial Service Representative
An agriculture financial service representative works with loan and
insurance portfolios. You're in charge of creating and growing portfolios of
mortgages, term insurance and operating loans. Your customer base ranges
from individual hobby growers, niche agriculture farms, traditional farmers to
park/recreational lands. You'll need a bachelor's degree in agricultural
business, finance or related degree, such as business administration.
b. Advisor Government/Stakeholder Relations
Government advisors are agriculture experts who guide and provide
information/insight to elected officials while also helping to develop
agriculture political policies. As a government advisor, you'll also work with
stakeholders by building relationships with various constituents. You may be
required to explain policies to laypeople and forge relationships to ensure
agriculture policies are understood. Depending on the position, you'll need a
bachelor's degree in agriculture or related industry, such as marketing or
business administration. Many positions require experience of three or four
years, while other require more experience.
c. Agriculture Lawyer
You will specialize in the legal aspects of the agriculture
industry. Some areas of expertise include, agriculture labor,
environmental regulations, land use, water, chemical/pesticide use in
agriculture, and seed propriety issues. You'll need a bachelor's degree
and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an American Bar Association
(ABA) accredited law school. You have to pass your state bar examine
before being able to practice law.
d. Agricultural Lobbyist
An agricultural lobbyist works for special interest groups,
companies, industry communities, and organizations to provide a voice
within government. You'll work to establish relationships with
Agriculture policymakers to present concerns and interests of your
client(s). You'll need a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics,
political science, law, public relations or a related field.
e. Cotton Gin and Warehouse Manager
The manager for a cotton gin process and warehouse is
responsible for the entire operation. This includes overseeing any of
the logistics associated with the offices of the USDA Cotton Classing.
This covers areas of marketing, storage and producers of cotton bales.
A high school diploma or GED is required. Some job requirements
include an associate degree in agricultural mechanics, agricultural
engineering, agricultural business or related field.
f. Crop Adjuster
As a crop adjuster, you'll investigate insurance claims made by
farmers and agriculture companies. You'll go out into the fields to start
your investigation and gather evidence. From there you'll determine
the cause, such as disease, insects, weather, or other causes. A high
school diploma is required with an emphasis on agricultural classes.
Beyond an entry-level job, you'll need an associate's or bachelor's
degree in an agricultural related field, such as agronomy, plant science,
soil or crop science. You may also need a Claim Adjuster Proficiency
Program Certification and possibly other state licenses. You may need
a pest control advisor license as well.
g. Farm Business Manager/Accountant
A farm business manager/accountant provides financial advice
to farms and Ag companies. You'll analyze and create reports as part of
your record keeping and oversight of various accounts. This can include
the budgets for farm operations and other accounting duties. You'll
need either an associate's or bachelor's degree in agricultural business,
farm management or a related field. Some employers provide on-the-
job training for those on a management career path.
h. Farm Production Manager
A farm manager oversees the entire production and functions
of a farm. You will coordinate with supervisors and workers to ensure
equipment, supplies, seeds/feeds, and other necessities are available
and ready. You'll be in charge of schedules, harvests and transporting
food/animals. This position requires a bachelor's degree in
horticulture, agronomy, agriculture or related field. Most positions
require previous experience in managing farm production and
supervising workers.
i. Feed Mill Manager
A feed mill manager oversees the production of producing
animal feed. This includes ensuring the quality, keeping costs in check
and the safety of the mill workers. Depending on the position, you may
need a bachelor's degree in an agricultural area or a related field.
Other positions may not require a degree, but two or more years'
experience or training (often a combination of both) in a similar
position or related one.
j. Grain Buyer
As a grain procurement specialist, you are an expert of grain
trading policies and trends according to the Chicago Board of Trade.
You'll work as a company representative in the purchasing of grains.
You might work for a large grain seller or possibly an organization of
various animal producers to purchase grain at the best price. You need
good people skills to build lasting relationships on both sides of the
aisle. While a bachelor's degree in agricultural business or economics
or a related field is usually desired, some employers will take
experience over degree.
k. Grain Elevator Manager
The grain elevator manager understands all
facets of the agriculture industry and facility. You
will be responsible for buying grain, storing grain
and shipping grain to various processing plants.
An associate's degree or bachelor's degree in
agricultural business or economics, marketing or
relate agronomic field is required.
4. Agricultural Communications
Agriculture is such a big business that many of the major
agricultural, farming and ranching companies house departments
dedicated to promoting and marketing their products. Individuals
involved in agricultural communications often work as marketers,
public relations experts or journalists.
a. Account Manager
An account manager is responsible for specific client accounts.
You will establish good business relationships with each of your
accounts. You will advise and inform your account representatives of
promotions, product changes/recalls, provide product information,
and accompany sales staff on calls to clients. You will also conduct
presentations, conferences and attend related trade shows. A
bachelor's degree in agribusiness, agronomy or marketing/business
related field is required. Some companies don't require a degree as
long as your experience is equivalent in related sales management
arenas.
b. Brand Manager
A brand manager works with various agriculture
businesses and marketing groups to market their products,
equipment and businesses. You will analyze various research
and market data to ensure sales goals are met. You'll come up
with various ways to help your clients develop and maintain
their brand in the market. You'll need a bachelor's degree in
marketing, business administration preferably with experience
or education in the agricultural industry.
c. Market News or Farm News Journalist/Reporter
An agriculture journalist writes various feature articles
for websites and print media about agricultural issues. This
can include current agriculture trends, the latest research,
agriculture markets, warnings about animal diseases, crop
problems, legislature, and more. You'll need a bachelor's
degree in journalism, agricultural communications or
communications.
c. Public Relations Representative
This position within the agriculture industry is like other PR careers.
You may be the face of an organization or Ag business. Your duties are to put
the best possible image before the public by providing information related to
your employer. You'll work with various agencies, organizations, marketing
groups, and community groups to distribute press releases and other vital
pieces of information. A bachelor's degree in agribusiness, agricultural
marketing, business administration, journalism, or communications is
required.
d. Regional Sales Manager
The regional sales manager has oversight and management of a
specific territory for selling the company products. You will direct and mentor
your sales team to meet quarterly sales goals. You will conduct analysis,
assessments and performance evaluations on each of your sales team and
overall regional performance in meeting sales quotas. You will be responsible
for your sales team training and education of new company products. A
bachelor's degree in agribusiness or related field or sales, marketing or
business administration is usually required. In addition, you'll need a proven
track record, usually five to eight years of experience.
5. Agricultural Economics
Someone has to price, broker and assess the agricultural
economy from day to day and year to year. The fact is
that the agricultural economy can be greatly affected by
issues like drought, flood and outbreaks of food borne
illness. It's the role of the agricultural economist to
address these issues.
a. Agricultural Lender
Many of the agricultural economics positions require a
degree in business, finance or economics. There may be
the opportunity in some positions to work your way up,
such as the job of an agricultural lender insurance agent,
that offers apprenticeships and training courses. You'll
need a bachelor's degree in agribusiness, business
administration, banking, finance or accounting.
b. Agricultural Policy Analyst
A food policy analyst examines data of agricultural research, education,
production, extension, and various relatable government programs.
You may also analyze data on agricultural programs for developing
policies on processes, food security, trends, and any number of policies
that affect the food industry. You'll need a master's degree in either
statistics, public administration, public policy, political science, or a
related field. Some jobs required a PhD.
c. Crop or Agriculture Insurance Agent
Clients of a crop or agriculture insurance agent include, agribusiness
individuals and companies, farmers, livestock producers, and ranchers.
You will need specialized insurance training and in most states be
required to pass a licensing exam. You'll need to know about the
different types of agriculture crops and businesses, risk management
insurance, and the types of insurance available. You'll also need a
bachelor's degree in agribusiness or related field, along with insurance
training and licensing according to your state regulations.
d. Economist Consultant
An agricultural economist examines and analyzes data in search of
trends and patterns to get a pulse on current market conditions and as
a predictive tool for future economy conditions. This information
provides companies, organizations and other clients with research that
assists them in making business decisions. This job requires a
bachelor's degree in agriculture, agricultural communications or
agricultural technology.
e. Food Distribution Manager
A food distribution manager is responsible for the procurement of
food, the logistics of transporting food, and the sales needed to
support distribution operations. You may work for a grocery chain or
food manufacturer. You'll also have oversight of price discovery and
maintain/improving your supplier network. Most positions require a
bachelor's degree in business management, agriculture sciences or
business administration. Some employers prefer hands-on experience
over degrees that include service delivery, logistics and distribution.
f. Sales Representative for Equipment and Ag
Systems
You will specialize in selling agriculture
equipment and/or systems as an Ag sales
representative. Typically, you'll have a specific
territory where you will make sales calls on
agriculture businesses and individual farmers.
Most employers seek experience, such as five
years selling agricultural systems and equipment
and seek proven sales track records.
6. Agricultural Agronomy
As an agronomist, you'll learn about crops and the soils
they require for growth. Your responsibilities include,
developing methods to improve soil use that improve
crop production while maintain soil health.
a. Environmental Specialist
An environmental specialist focuses on promoting and
improving agriculture with the goal of protecting the
environment, such as soil runoffs, forests from
deforestation, conserving natural resources, and
conserving farmland. You'll need a bachelor's degree in
an environmental science, engineering or other
science/engineering related field.
b. Greenhouse Manager
A greenhouse manager oversees the day-to-day running of a
greenhouse/nursery. This may be in service to the general public or
you may work for a large greenhouse company that provides plants to
specific crop industries. You'll plan which species are grown, schedule
plantings for inventory and prepare turnover of plant production.
Some companies look for a bachelor's degree in agriculture,
agriculture science or related field, while others accept high school
diploma and five to eight years of experience.
c. Soil Scientist/Soil Conservationist
A soil scientist analyzes and evaluates the upper Earth crust (several
feet) for its chemical and physical condition. You'll go out into the field
to gather samples and provide assessments to advise on agricultural
conditions, problems and solutions. You may work for universities,
federal or state governments, individual farms, or corporate farms. A
bachelor's degree in soil science or related field is needed. Some
employers require a master's degree and eight to ten years of
experience is often another requirement.
d. Seed Production Agronomist
A seed production agronomist manages, evaluates, develops, and implements
seed production phases. Your goal will be to produce and create quality seeds
to assist growers in realizing maximize yields. This position requires either a
bachelor's or master's degree in agronomy or a related agricultural field.
e. Viticulturist
A viticulturist researches how to improve grape yields and implements
specific solutions for grape production. You'll be responsible for the land
preparation, pest control, pruning, trellising, and all facets of growing and
harvesting grapes for wine. This position requires a bachelor's degree in
viticulture although related degrees are considered along with experience.
f. Weed Scientist
A weed scientist researches, and diagnoses field crop weed problems and
offers solutions, such as mechanical, chemical or natural plantings. You can
also find careers in golf course management or working with homeowners.
You may choose a career developing products specifically for weed control.
Some jobs require a master's degree in weed science while other demand a
PhD. Other majors may include plant ecology, plant physiology, agronomy or
soil science.
7. Animal Sciences
Animal science addresses the problems of the management and production of
livestock. This encompasses the associated issues of biology, social sciences and
physical. An animal scientist can also find a career path in animal foods and foods
originating from animals, such as dairy and eggs.
a. Animal Geneticist
An animal geneticist studies and analyzes genetic makeup of various animals. You will
identify specific genes associated with behaviors and health issues, such as immunity
and susceptibility to diseases. You'll identify ways of improving selection processes
and ways to reduce genetic differences in breeds. A bachelor's degree in genetics or
animal science, dairy science, biology, and poultry science. Some positions require a
master's degree while others require a PhD.
b. Apiary Worker/Beekeeper
A beekeeper is concerned with all aspects of bee colonies. You'll oversee and maintain
a healthy bee colony and address any diseases swiftly. You'll be responsible for the
production of honey including pollination. You provide bees with ample food reserves,
build hives, collect/package beeswax, honey, and replace combs as needed. Apiary
workers are required to have a high school degree or GED. If you wish to move into
management, you'll need an associate's degree or possibly a bachelor's degree either
in entomology or biology.
c. Artificial Insemination Technician
The technician is responsible for the artificial insemination of female
animals. You will use tools designed for animal artificial insemination to meet the
criteria of a breeding program for livestock. You'll be responsible for storing, thawing
and preparing animal semen. You'll also serve as an advisor for farmers, ranchers and
other breeders and verify pregnancies. A bachelor's degree in animal, equine or
poultry science is preferred by most employers, although technically, a high school
diploma is generally accepted. Some employers require you have a certification from a
program that adheres to the National Association of Animal Breeders standards.
d. Feed Sales/Management
A feed sales representative sells livestock feed to a wide range of customers,
such as livestock production facilities, dealers and in some instances directly to
farmers. As a sales rep, you'll make calls on potential clients and establish professional
relationships to market feed.
e. Livestock Feedlot Operator
Feedlot operators oversee the daily feeding in feed yards where 150 or more
cattle or kept and fed. You will be responsible for assessing the cattle for any signs of
illnesses or disease, changes in feeding habits and diet and notifying the manager. A
high school diploma is required, but if you're planning a career path to feed lot
manager, you need to plan for an associate's or bachelor's degree in animal science,
agribusiness or other related field.
f. Livestock Hauler
• Your duties as a livestock hauler is to ensure the safety, welfare and delivery of
various livestock. This transporting can be from a farm to the market or to a
processing plant. You'll need a high school diploma and Commercial Driver's
License (CDL).
g. Livestock Insurance Representative
• Livestock insurance agents sell insurance policies to ranchers and farmers to cover
livestock for high-value animals and blanket coverage for herds. You'll assess your
clients needs and make recommendations to answer insurance needs. Many
employers prefer a bachelor's degree in a related field, but accept high school
diplomas. You will need to meet and pass your state's insurance licensing
requirements and possibly annual continuing education courses.
h. Livestock Procurement/Buyer
• Livestock buyer procures livestock for clients or works for a specific company. You'll
identify livestock and negotiate a price and schedule transportation. You must be
aware of current industry, trends, competition, and be able to answer clients'
needs and questions. Knowledge in industry rules/guidelines, pricing and contracts
is required. You must also know how to assess animals for health and advise
buyers on animal care. You'll need an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in
animal science, agribusiness or marketing field, depending on the employer's
criteria.
i. Livestock Production Manager
Must be knowledgeable in animal science and the livestock industry
for several types of livestock. You'll n charge of raising and marketing livestock
through close monitoring and evaluations of livestock needs and health.
Manage all related paperwork, reports and business responsibilities. A high
school diploma or a GED is typically required, although some employers
require a bachelor's degree in an agricultural related field, such as animal
science, agricultural engineering or livestock evaluation.
j. Ranch/Farm Hand
Responsibilities can vary from a farm to a ranch worker, but both
careers involve the daily duties and routines of running a working ranch or
farm. Your responsibilities can range from using and maintaining equipment,
tools and machinery. You'll also care for farm animals and/or livestock, such
as feeding, moving to different grazing pastures, production and harvesting of
crops, and repairs to fences or various farm structures. Some positions may
require requisitions to your supervisor for equipment, supplies and notifying
of any abnormalities or issues that arise. A high school diploma or GED is
often required by farms or ranches. Some prefer basic animal science
classwork, such as those offered in high school agriculture classes.
k. Rendering Truck Driver/Rendering Maintenance Technician
A rendering truck driver or maintenance technician transports
the processed meats to plants for creating byproducts of biodiesel
fuel, pet food or livestock food. These animals can't be used for human
consumption due to disease, natural causes or euthanasia. Both
positions require a high school diploma or GED. Truck drivers are
required to have a Class A driver's license also called a CDL
(Commercial Driver's License).
l. Veterinarian
A veterinarian working in agriculture is often referred to as a
large animal veterinarian. The animals you'll treat include horses, dairy
cows, beef, hogs/pigs and goats. You may also serve chicken and
turkey farmers. You may work at a private animal hospital or a
county/state veterinarian department or hospital. You'll make calls to
farms and ranches to treat, assess and advise on individual animal
health issues as well as herd health. This requires a Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine degree. This includes a bachelor's degree in
animal science and four-year degree in veterinary medicine.
8. Food Sciences
It's one thing to have crops and livestock on a ranch,
but it's another thing entirely to turn those resources into
food that's ready to be placed on the table in homes around
the world. Individuals involved in food sciences deal with
safety, research and product development before the food
hits the shelves.
a. Food Product Research and Development
Food product research and development careers are
focused on new food product development. This includes
creating new ingredient formulas and various processes. You'll
take a new idea and research how to bring it into fruition from
a single creation to mass production in a plant along with the
appropriate packaging. A bachelor's degree or master's
degree in food science, food engineering or nutrition is
required depending on the job and company.
b. Quality Assurance
Agricultural careers in quality assurance follow USDA standards and policies
for the production of foods and grain products. You'll need to comply with these
regulations and provide support that ensures passing federal and state inspections. A
bachelor's degree in computer science, math, management information systems or
business management may be required. Some companies accept experience as an
equivalent to education.
c. Food Chemist/Microbiologist/Researcher
A food chemist, food microbiologist and food researcher work within the
food industry framework to advance food technology, develop effective
modernization, research beneficial and harmful effects of microbes and more. The
focus for all positions is to advance food quality and food safety. A bachelor's degree
in chemistry, food science or biology is required. Some positions require a master's
degree and researcher positions often require a PhD.
d. Food Manufacturing
There are numerous careers within food manufacturing, from a line
employee, equipment mechanic, floor supervisor to a purchasing manager. All
processes involved in the manufacturing of food have various positions that require
expertise, such as mixing ingredients, baking, packaging, and distribution. Depending
on your job, you may only need a highs school diplomas or GED. You may be required
to have an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, a master's degree or a PhD in
agricultural science or food science.
Agricultural Educational Opportunities
Most state colleges and universities offer
opportunities for undergraduate and graduate
degrees within agriculture. If the schools you're
interested in don't offer specific degrees in
agriculture, you can pursue related fields.
 Situation of Philippine Agriculture
Alarming state of Philippine agriculture
Marichu A. Villanueva (The Philippine Star) - November 14, 2018 - 12:00am

• What’s happening with Philippine agriculture?

Since the administration of President Rodrigo
Duterte took over, our country’s
agriculture growth has gone down to an
alarming low. From 3% in the third quarter of
2016 when President Duterte came into
office, it declined to 2.6% in the same quarter
in 2017.
• And based on the latest monitoring of the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the third
quarter of this year, agriculture posted a minus
0.4% growth. It was a much worse performance
from the immediately preceding second quarter
record of minus 0.2% growth.
• But even with destruction wrought by super
typhoon “Yolanda,” the country’s agriculture
output never posted any negative growth until
now for the second consecutive quarters.
• From the latest PSA monitoring, the
agriculture industry, which shared 81.7% to
the entire sector, dropped by 0.1% in the third
quarter of 2018. The major contributors to the
decline were: corn, 14.4%; palay, 5.4%; and
cassava, 3.1%. Fishing, which accounted
for 17.9% of the total agriculture sector, went
down by 1.1% percent for the same period.
Forestry also dropped 16.1%.
• Overall, the PSA reported the country’s economic
growth – as measured by the gross domestic
product (GDP) – slowed down to 6.1% in the third
quarter. Rising inflation in the country for the
past months have apparently dampened
consumer spending which is a major growth
driver of the Philippine economy.
• Woefully, the agriculture sector continues to be the laggard among
three major industry groups, contributing a mere 0.03% to the third
quarter GDP growth.
• The services sector, which had a contribution of 4.1% to GDP,
remained as the main driver of the economy. The industry sector,
which contributed 2.1% to GDP, also grew slower by 6.2% as
industrial firms grapple with rising prices of inputs and the weaker
food demand by households. Food manufacturing was notably
affected by the output decline in the agricultural sector, the
increase in the price of sugar and tin cans.
• All the sectors affected were apparently pulled down by
agriculture’s declining production.
• The country’s agricultural productivity did not
have it any better than the 6.5% growth recorded
during the shortened administration of former
president Joseph Estrada. This 6.5% annual
growth of Philippine agriculture up to now has
not been replicated, not even during the nine
years in office of economist president Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo.
• The present sorry state of Philippine agriculture traces
its roots when former president Benigno Simeon
“PNoy” Aquino III emasculated the Department of
Agriculture. A bright idea of P-Noy was to overhaul the
Department by removing four attached agencies and
placed them under the supervision of the Office of the
President through his own created body called the
Presidential Assistant on Food Security and
Modernization (PAFSAM). The four agencies were the
National Food Authority (NFA), the National Irrigation
Authority (NIA), the Philippine Coconut Authority
(NFA), and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA).
• By virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 165 he signed on May 5, 2014,
PNoy transferred the four agencies under PAFSAM and appointed
Liberal Party (LP) Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who at that time
had already “graduated” from his second and last term at the
Senate. As previous chair of the Senate committee on agriculture,
Pangilinan got some powers out of the DA chief who was also
another former LP partymate in Congress, Secretary Proceso Alcala.
• Pangilinan’s appointment came at the heels of “pressures” to deal
with agricultural issues at that time. With only two years of PNoy’s
term remaining, he needed to take drastic measures in food
security while the country was still coping with the destruction of
super typhoon “Yolanda” in November 2013. Even after Pangilinan
resigned in September 2015 to run for election for his comeback
bid to the Senate, PAFSAM was not abolished.
• When President Duterte came into office in June 2016, he
issued EO No.1 which, among other things, transferred the
NFA, PCA and the PFA from PAFSAM to the Office of the
Cabinet Secretary headed by Leoncio Evasco. A trusted aide
at City Hall of the former Davao City Mayor, however, got
into policy conflict over rice importation with NFA chief
Jason Aquino, another trusted aide of President Duterte.
• At the height of their feud, an artificial shortage on NFA rice
erupted which caused prices of rice, including commercial
ones, to shoot up to more than P45 per kilo in the markets.
• The fallout between the two officials led to DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol unfairly
getting the brunt of criticisms for the rice shortage mess. To stop the down spiral
of the situation, the President issued EO No. 62 last September that, among other
things, restored the NFA, the PCA and the FPA back under the supervision of the
Agriculture Department. In the same EO 62, President Duterte designated the
Agriculture Secretary as chairman of the inter-agency NFA Council.
• President Duterte finally lowered the boom on both Evasco and Aquino. The Chief
Executive relieved Aquino. As of this writing, there is no NFA chief so far
appointed.
• On the other hand, the President waited until Evasco resigned on his own in order
to run for governor in Bohol in the coming May elections next year. The President
subsequently named last week Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexie Nograles – who is on
his third and last term in Congress – to take over as his new Cabinet Secretary.
•
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/11/14/1868366/alarming-
state-philippine-agriculture#WO57eOh9hHTEPtUd.99
• To further stave off the disruption of the
intramurals, President Duterte signed last
Sept. 21 Administrative Order No. 13 that
remove non-tariff barriers and streamlined
further the administrative procedures on
agricultural products. Under the DA direction,
these non-tariff barriers are now being
implemented by the NFA, the Sugar
Regulatory Authority (SRA), and the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Misamis Oriental bans pork from Luzon,
Visayas
Sep 13, 2019 - 4:13 PM
Misamis Oriental joins 3 other provinces which
sealed off its borders to prevent its local hog
industry from African swine fever contamination
Agriculture department 'floods' market with
cheap, imported NFA rice
Sep 13, 2019 - 9:43 AM
Agriculture Secretary William Dar leads the
unloading of NFA rice in Commonwealth Market
in Quezn City, which will be sold at P27 per kilo
Pig carcasses retrieved along Marikina River
Sep 13, 2019 - 8:45 AM
'There is no slaughterhouse or piggery in
Marikina. The dead pigs could have been from
the upstream of Rizal,' says Marikina City Mayor
Marcy Teodoro
Where's P4 billion for farmers? Villar grills
DBM, DA
Aug 28, 2019 - 10:15 PM
Senator Cynthia Villar wants the Department of
Agriculture to account for how it used the funds
that the Department of Budget and
Management released in 2018
Agricultural output worsens, contracts by
1.27% in Q2 2019
Aug 07, 2019 - 5:35 PM
Year-to-date, agricultural output is down by
0.24%. The government is aiming for it to reach
3.5% in 2019.
William Dar aims to quadruple agri growth,
double farmers' income
Aug 06, 2019 - 2:25 PM
Agriculture didn't even grow 1% in 2018. Acting
Secretary William Dar says he plans to improve
the numbers through programs and reforms.
William Dar is new agriculture secretary
Aug 05, 2019 - 1:55 PM
After saying he might pick a former military man to head the
Department of Agriculture, President Rodrigo Duterte chooses
an agriculture expert instead

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol resigns

Jun 27, 2019 - 8:16 PM
(4th UPDATE) Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol
recommends as his replacement Undersecretary Waldo
Carpio, brother-in-law of presidential daughter Sara Duterte
Carpio, as well as two other undersecretaries
• The Philippines is still primarily an agricultural
country despite the plan to make it an
industrialized economy by 2000. Most citizens
still live in rural areas and support themselves
through agriculture. The country's agriculture
sector is made up of 4 sub-sectors: farming,
fisheries, livestock, and forestry (the latter 2
sectors are very small), which together employ
39.8 percent of the labor force and contribute 20
percent of GDP.
• The country's main agricultural crops are rice, corn,
coconut, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple, coffee,
mangoes, tobacco, and abaca (a banana-like plant).
Secondary crops include peanut, cassava, camote (a
type of rootcrop), garlic, onion, cabbage, eggplant,
calamansi (a variety of lemon), rubber, and cotton. The
year 1998 was a bad year for agriculture because of
adverse weather conditions. Sector output shrank by
8.3 percent, but it posted growth the following year.
Yet, hog farming and commercial fishing posted
declines in their gross revenues in 1999. The sector is
burdened with low productivity for most of its crops.
• The Philippines exports its agricultural products around
the world, including the United States, Japan, Europe, and
ASEAN countries (members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations). Major export products are coconut oil and
other coconut products, fruits and vegetables, bananas,
and prawns (a type of shrimp). Other exports include the
Cavendish banana, Cayenne pineapple, tuna, seaweed, and
carrageenan. The value of coconut-product exports
amounted to US$989 million in 1995 but declined to
US$569 million by 2000. Imported agricultural products
include unmilled wheat and meslin, oilcake and other
soybean residues, malt and malt flour, urea, flour, meals
and pellets of fish, soybeans and whey.
• One of the most pressing concerns of the agricultural
sector is the rampant conversion of agricultural land into
golf courses, residential subdivisions, and industrial parks
or resorts. In 1993 the nation was losing irrigated rice lands
at a rate of 2,300 hectares per year. Small land-holders find
it more profitable to sell their land to developers in
exchange for cash, especially since they lack capital for
seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and wages for hiring workers
to plant and harvest the crops. Another concern is farmers'
continued reliance on chemical-based fertilizers or
pesticides that have destroyed soil productivity over time.
In recent years however, farmers have been slowly turning
to organic fertilizer, or at least to a combination of chemical
and organic inputs.
• Environmental damage is another major concern. Coral-reef
destruction, pollution of coastal and marine resources, mangrove
forest destruction, and siltation (the clogging of bodies of water
with silt deposits) are significant problems.
• The agriculture sector has not received adequate resources for the
funding of critical programs or projects, such as the construction of
efficient irrigation systems. According to the World Bank, the share
of irrigated crop land in the Philippines averaged only about 19.5
percent in the mid-1990s, compared with 37.5 percent for China,
24.8 percent for Thailand, and 30.8 percent for Vietnam. In the late
1990s, the government attempted to modernize the agriculture
sector with the Medium Term Agricultural Development Plan and
the Agricultural Fisheries Modernization Act.
 What are the problems of agriculture in the
philippines?

There are a lot of factors that affect the

Philippine Agriculture Industry.
• Capital
• Ageing Farmers
• Lack of Information
• Government Support
• The Poorman of the Philippines
What is the importance of agriculture in the Philippines?
What are the issues its facing?

Importance:
• Food security - the Philippines is an agricultural country yet
we import rice.
• Massive unemployment - agriculture can be a viable means
to solve the issue of unemployment in the country.
• Issues:
• Some issues are mainly due to the fact that the agricultural
sector has been forced to overperform without the means
of production to retain sustainable agriculture. Native
farmers often used traditional methods of farming that
stood the test of time and typhoons experienced by the
country but this is not the case today.
• Lack of national industrialization - agricultural lands are still
being tilled using animals instead of heavy machinery; most
heavy machinery are used only by big corporations.
Farmers have to hand plant the rice, often under the
scorching sun
• Lack of agricultural reform - most farmers are landless,
have tilled land that are not theirs for a pittance thus
living in poverty and often in hunger
• Monocropping - in order harvest more, farmers tend to
use monocropping which drains nutrients from the soil.
This is not an issue before the capitalist oriented
agricultural framework. Farmers used indigenous other
indigenous plants to maximize the use of the soil and
to harvest other food like sweet potato and other root
crops.
• There is still a semi-feudal system ongoing -
farmers are being paid for their labor by landlords
who own the land, sometimes having to deal with
a 70/30 agreement that favors the landlords. In
times of small harvests, farmers are still made to
fulfill the quota even if it meant giving away their
own portions.
• Imported crops being smuggled into markets -
farmers are forced to sell their crops at lower
prices to compete with the prices of smuggled
goods
Importance is food security, no doubt about.
• Challenges.
• When I was still in college, one of our professors
claimed the the Filipino farmer produces more
rice “per hectare” compared to their Thai and
Vietnamese counterparts. Then why is it that
what we are not producing as much?
• Here is why and why we are importing rice.
• Also, while other countries such as Japan and Australia are
“consolidating” their farm lands, here in the Philippines, we keep on
dividing and dividing the lands until each farm is just a few hundred
square meters.
• My great grandfather has dozens of agricultural lands. My
grandfather inherited about 3 hectares which is enough to raise
four children and send some of them to college. His four heirs will
then have 0.75 ha. each. If this trend continues, all I learned about
farm machinery, those automated planters and harvesters, those
post-harvest technologies, will then be applied on a 1500 sq. m.
piece of land, so much for industrialized farming.
• We also have this agrarian reform that distributes large areas of
land to small farmers. And if it isn’t economically bad enough, those
farmers keep selling their newly acquired assets to land developers
who would later convert those lands to subdivisions.
• Once upon a time, I was taking my internship with an American
multinational in Manila, somewhere in Taguig, which requires me to travel
by bus, train, and another train (in that order) just to get home.
• Since traffic in Manila sucks at pretty much every weekday, I started
catching up with my friend studying agriculture at the University of the
Philippines - Los Banos. Being a curious person, I started asking her a
bunch of questions about agriculture.
• Me: Why does Philippine agriculture suck? Why the hell do we have to
import rice? Isn’t agriculture supposed to be a strength?
• Friend: Agriculture sucks because land ownership, farmer’s access to
market and technology and governmental support and regulation sucks.
We import rice and agriculture sucks because the weather sometimes
sucks as well. I mean we get battered by almost twenty typhoons per year.
That affects agriculture a lot.
• Basically, a lot of things suck.