Agribusiness is one of Minnesota’s most important industries and southern Minnesota is a busy hub of agricultural activity. With all of this productivity going on, ag jobs in this area abound. And the bounty of ag-centered jobs extends beyond the crop management and livestock production people may think of when they hear “ag.”  Today, the business of agriculture provides a wide variety of related career opportunities.

There is a lot of good news out there for ag employees. Careers in farming, ranching and other types of agricultural management are expected to grow in the next decade with wages in these fields averaging $69,300 and plenty of room for specialization and independence. According to AgCareers.com’s 2016-17 Agribusiness Human Resources Review, hiring and salaries will continue to trend upward. 45 percent of U.S. ag companies are expecting to increase their workforce in the next two years, and because with experience and specialization comes higher wages, 95 percent of companies surveyed indicated that all or at least some staff would be likely to receive salary increases.

More good news is that it’s not only Minnesota’s ag industry that is flourishing. U.S. agricultural products are among the top of all U.S. exports and a critical component of the world food and related goods market. Between 2009 and 2016, the U.S. exported $1 trillion in agricultural goods, the strongest showing for the ag sector in history.

Workforce Challenges

As is customary, this thriving industry is heavily reliant upon its workforce for success and it is anticipated that the growth of ag, coupled with continued diversification and an aging workforce, will result in substantial workforce shortages.

In a field like ag that boasts more than 200 different career options, filling these diversified career positions is a challenge. It is estimated that there are nearly 58,000 openings every year for college graduates in agriculture, food, renewable natural resources and the environment and not enough grads available to fill those openings, according to a report by Purdue University in Indiana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Colleges currently graduate only 35,400 individuals trained in such fields each year. That means 39 percent of the new openings will be left unfilled or filled by those lacking the necessary expertise.

Ag Means Business

46 percent of the projected agricultural growth is in ag management and business. Another 27 percent of the new openings will be in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and math. A further 15 percent will center on green fields like sustainable food and biomaterials production. And the remaining 12 percent of openings are in education, communication, and governmental services.

“There is incredible opportunity for highly-skilled jobs in agriculture,” said former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Those receiving degrees in agricultural fields can expect to have ample career opportunities. Not only will those who study agriculture be likely to get well-paying jobs upon graduation, they will also have the satisfaction of working in a field that addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges. These jobs will only become more important as we continue to develop solutions to feed more than 9 billion people by 2050.”

The variety of agribusiness jobs reflects the increasing complexity of the field. These varied jobs support the enormous domestic and international markets and utilize ever-developing logistical, commercial and technological innovations.

Meeting Changing Demand

In addition, changing food demand and climate challenges will also present agriculture grads with many new opportunities in the next decade. “Skyrocketing consumer demand for local and regional food is an economic opportunity for America’s farmers and ranchers,” Vilsack noted, adding that success will be a result of “entrepreneurship, sound business sense, and a desire for social impact.”

AGRIBUSINESS

Whether you are interested in scientific advances, environmental sustainability or just the business of getting food on the table, the wide-ranging field of Agribusiness needs you.

*Starting salaries may be lower and more experience can demand higher levels of pay.

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI)