Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agriculture and Natural Resources Icon

Because agriculture is California’s most important economic industry, California is often called the breadbasket of the world. If you love nature, animals, or growing things, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Sector may hold a great career for you.

A strong demand exists for well-trained, environmentally-sensitive individuals to provide the state, nation, and world with food, fiber,and a healthy environment. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Sector provides a foundation for agriculture students in California. This sector emphasizes real-world, occupationally-relevant experiences. Classroom and laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experience, projects, leadership, and interpersonal skill development activities prepare students for advanced training, higher education, and entry to a career.

Career Pathways

Agricultural Business Pathway

Agricultural business students will find many job opportunities in the managerial and financial ranks. Agriculture in the United States is big business that is becoming international in scope. If you are interested in traveling to other countries, agricultural business might be the perfect career for you.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Landscape Managers
  • Economists
  • Ag Marketing
  • Sales
  • Farm Realty
  • Banking
  • Appraisers
  • Floral Shop Owners
  • Timber Managers
  • Aquaculture
  • Fisheries Managers
  • Farm Managers
  • Accounting
  • Irrigation Managers
  • Product Brokers/Buyers
  • Agricultural Lending Officers

Agricultural Mechanics Pathway

Today’s agricultural engineering and power equipment industry uses complex technology that combines fabrication, hydraulic power, electronic controls, and powerful engines. Getting your hands dirty may be necessary, but your knowledge will play a larger role in finding a successful career in agricultural mechanics. Technicians are needed to diagnose, test, and repair equipment. Mechanical skills needed for construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of agricultural equipment involving wood, metal, concrete, electrical, plumbing, and welding are all part of an agricultural mechanics career.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Equipment Fabricators
  • Land Leveling
  • Irrigation Engineers
  • Equipment Operators
  • Welding/Metal Fabrication
  • Power System Mechanics
  • Irrigation System Designers
  • Precision Farming Technicians
  • Trouble Shooting

Agriscience Pathway

Agriscience is the basis of past and future developments in agriculture. It provides a broad understanding of agricultural knowledge, develops awareness of career opportunities in agriculture, while providing occupationally relevant experiences, cooperative group learning, and leadership skills. Many agricultural scientists work in basic or applied research and development. All agriculture related careers benefit from knowledge and experience in the Agriscience Pathway.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Enology
  • Ag Chemicals
  • Plant Propagation
  • Plant/Animal Genetics
  • Agriculture Pest Management
  • Hydraulic Engineers
  • Food Processing
  • Production Management
  • Biotechnology

Animal Science Pathway

Animal production for food, fiber, recreation, and companionship is represented in the Animal Science Pathway. Knowledge of the diet, genetics, habitat, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, production, behavior, health, and welfare of large, small, and specialty animals, birds, and poultry is part of career preparation in the Animal Science Pathway.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Animal Breeding
  • Artificial Insemination
  • Fishing
  • Fish Farming
  • Cattle Ranching
  • Horseshoeing
  • Pack Station
  • Poultry Farming
  • Meat Inspectors
  • Animal Nutritionists
  • Zoo and Veterinary Work and Management
  • Animal Trainers

Forestry and Natural Resources Pathway

Forestry and natural resources workers need an understanding of the relationships between humans, the environment, and natural resources. Water resources and management, soil conservation, wildlife preservation and management, forest and fire management, and lumber production are all related to the conservation, use, and protection of our natural resources.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Park Rangers
  • Ski Resort Managers
  • Firefighters
  • Surveyors
  • Logging
  • Range/Timber Managers
  • Hydrologists
  • Campground Managers
  • Ecologists
  • Guides
  • Grounds Workers
  • Environmental Engineers
  • Forest Resources Technologists

Ornamental Horticulture Pathway

What is the difference between a weed and a flower? They say it is all in the eye of the beholder! Ornamental horticulture workers are involved in the development, production, and maintenance of nursery, landscaping, and floral industry related products. Necessary knowledge of related areas include plant identification, plant physiology, soil science, plant reproduction, as well as landscaping design, installation, and maintenance.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Floriculture
  • Landscape Design
  • Tree Trimming
  • Entomologists
  • Plant Curators
  • Floral Designers
  • Nursery Production
  • Greenhouse Work
  • Landscaping and Grounds Keeping
  • Golf Course and Park Management
  • Plant and Turf Propagation and Sales
  • Retail Nursery Work

Plant and Soil Science Pathway

The Plant and Soil Science Pathway involves plant classification, physiology, reproduction, plant breeding, biotechnology, pest management, and pathology. Workers in this area must also learn about soil management, water, pests, and equipment, as well as cultural and harvest practices.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Soil Conservation
  • Plant Biologists
  • Horticulturists
  • Entomology
  • Irrigation
  • Soil Nutrition
  • Turf Grass Production
  • Viticulture
  • Pest Control Advisors
  • Botanists
  • Ag Field Representatives
  • Orchardists
  • Waste Water Specialists
  • Crop Farmers

Programs of Study

Program of Study Author Career Pathway Download this Program of Study

Agricultural Business

 		Central California Consortium Agricultural Business Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconAgriculture-Business.xls

Agricultural Mechanics

 		Central California Consortium Agricultural Mechanics Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconAgriculture Mechanics.xls

Agriscience

 		Central California Consortium Agriscience Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconAgriscience.xls

Animal Science

 		Central California Consortium Animal Science Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconAnimal Science.xls

Forestry and Natural Resources

 		Central California Consortium Forestry and Natural Resources Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconForestry and NR.xls

Ornamental Horticulture

 		Central California Consortium Ornamental Horticulture Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconOrnamental Horticulture.xls

Plant and Soil Science

 		Central California Consortium Plant and Soil Science Pathway
application/vnd.ms-excel iconPlant and Soil Science.xls

Labor Market Information

The information below is just a small sample of the many great employment related resources available on the State of California website www.edd.ca.gov. We encourage you to visit the website and explore the available information.

Occupation Title Employment Levels in 2006 Projected Employment Level 2016 Projected Job Growth Percent of Job Growth 2008 Hourly ¹Mean Wage 2008 ²Weekly Mean Wage 2008 ³Monthly Mean Wage 2008 Annual Mean Wage
Agricultural Equipment Operators 15,800 15,900

100

0.6%

 $11.39

$455.60

$1,913.52

$22,962.20
Animal Breeders

0

0.0%

 $18.84

$753.60

$3,165.12

$37,981.40
Bookkeeping/accounting clerks 232,500 267,500

35,000

15.1%

 $18.15

$726.00

$3,049.20

$36,590.40
conservation Scientist 1,000 1,100

100

10.0%

 $32.92

$1,316.80

$5,530.56

$66,366.70
Environmental Engineers 4,800 6,000

1,200

25.0%

 $39.69

$1,587.60

$6,667.92

$80,015.00
Farm Equipment Mechanics 2,400 2,400

0

0.0%

 $17.67

$706.80

$2,968.56

$35,622.70
Farm Managers 41,500 47,600

6,100

14.7%

 $34.40

$1,376.00

$5,779.20

$69,350.40
Farm product Brokers/Buyers 1,300 1,500

200

15.4%

 $29.46

$1,178.40

$4,949.28

$59,391.40
Firefighters 26,700 31,600

4,900

18.4%

 $30.16

$1,206.40

$5,066.88

$60,802.60
Fishers & Fishing Workers 1,500 1,400

-100

-6.7%

 $14.56

$582.40

$2,446.08

$29,353.00
Floral Designers 7,700 8,500

800

10.4%

 $13.92

$556.80

$2,338.56

$28,062.70
Food Scientist 1,100 1,300

200

18.2%

 $34.20

$1,368.00

$5,745.60

$68,947.20
Forest Technicians 5,800 6,100

300

5.2%

 $17.72

$708.80

$2,976.96

$35,723.50
Hydrologist 1,000 1,300

300

30.0%

 $38.07

$1,522.80

$6,395.76

$76,749.10
Landscape Architect 4,400 4,900

500

11.4%

 $32.33

$1,293.20

$5,431.44

$65,177.30
Landscaping & Grounds Keeping 166,000 194,500

28,500

17.2%

 $12.58

$503.20

$2,113.44

$25,361.30
Landscaping/Grounds Supervisor 22,300 25,800

3,500

15.7%

 $22.40

$896.00

$3,763.20

$45,158.40
Liquid Waste Treatment Workers 8,300 9,900

1,600

19.3%

 $25.80

$1,032.00

$4,334.40

$52,012.80
Metal Fabricators 8,000 8,600

600

7.5%

 $17.85

$714.00

$2,998.80

$35,985.60
Real Estate Agents 24,700 27,100

2,400

9.7%

 $33.75

$1,350.00

$5,670.00

$68,040.00
Slaughterers & meat packers 3,300 3,600

300

9.1%

 $11.12

$444.80

$1,868.16

$22,417.90
Soil & Plant Scientist 2,100 2,500

400

19.0%

 $36.48

$1,459.20

$6,128.64

$73,543.70
Surveyors 5,900 6,700

800

13.6%

 $34.83

$1,393.20

$5,851.44

$70,217.30
Veterinary Technologist & Technicians 8,200 11,500

3,300

40.2%

 $16.42

$656.80

$2,758.56

$33,102.70

These selected occupations with information on job growth, percent growth and earning potentials are based on information found at www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov.

¹Mean: Midpoint between highest & lowest ²Weekly: Based on 40 hours ³Monthly: Based on 168 hours

Employment Data Sheet: 
application/pdf iconag-labor.pdf
Brochure: 
application/pdf iconag-industry-brochure.pdf

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Other News / Reminders

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