Business

By 2050, farmers around the world are expected to need to grow about 70% more food than they do now to meet demands of a rising global population. There are many opportunities to work in the business of agriculture, which includes farming but encompasses so much more. Explore the wide variety of programs and careers below, from research to production and even fashion. Find your path.

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Agribusiness

Management

Prepare for a career with firms involved in the processing, manufacturing, and distribution of agricultural products. This concentration offers courses from a wide range of business interests in management, marketing, accounting, and more.

Career Opportunities:

• Agribusiness manager - median annual salary of $64,170
• Agricultural economist - median annual salary of $65,480
• Agronomy sales - median annual salary of $58,600
• Loan officer - median annual salary of $63,400

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Production

Do you want to manage your own agricultural operations, or consult those who do? Prepare to analyze many issues associated with the distinct characteristics and economics of agricultural production.

Career Opportunities:

• Agribusiness manager — median annual salary of $64,170
• Agricultural economist — median annual salary of $65,480
• Agronomy sales — median annual salary of $58,600
• Loan officer — median annual salary of $63,400

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Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications

Leadership

Prepare for a leadership role in a variety of agricultural industries. This concentration will develop your skills for employment with the Extension service or in a variety of agricultural industry careers.

Career Opportunities:

• Agriculture broadcaster — median annual salary of $45,000
• Extension agent — median annual salary of $49,770
• Photojournalist — median annual salary of $37,500
• Public relations executive — median annual salary of $70,460

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Agricultural Engineering Technology & Business

Enterprise Management

Learn the skills needed to solve problems for a wide variety of systems and to manage an agricultural or business enterprise.

Career Opportunities:

• Conservation scientist - median annual salary of $61,310
• Crop consultant - median annual salary of $49,840
• Hydrologist - median annual salary of $79,550
• Land surveyor - median annual salary of $58,020

Precision Agriculture

Technology is the future of agriculture. We prepare you for that future by training you in global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and digital mapping technologies.

Career Opportunities:

• Conservation scientist — median annual salary of $61,310
• Crop consultant — median annual salary of $49,840
• Hydrologist — median annual salary of $79,550
• Land surveyor — median annual salary of $58,020

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Agronomy

Golf and Sports Turf Management

New construction of golf courses and sports facilities has led to a heightened demand for trained golf and sports turf management professionals. Learn the application of science to the integrated management of turfgrasses with a focus on conserving, maintaining, and enhancing our environment.

Career Opportunities:

• Athletic field manager - median annual salary of $60,175
• Chemical sales representative - median annual salary of $88,270
• Golf course superintendent - median annual salary of $89,000
• Sod farm manager - median annual salary of $51,859

Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture

Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture is the science and art of producing, distributing, marketing, and using flowers, flowering and foliage plants, and woody ornamental landscape plants. The curriculum is grounded in plant and soil sciences courses and includes a required 12-week internship in a floral industry enterprise.

Career Opportunities:

• Greenhouse Owner/Grower — median annual salary of $45,081
• Horticulture Sales and Marketing — median annual salary of $65,630
• Public Garden, Botanical Garden, and Arboretum Curator — median annual salary of $61,750
• University Extension Specialist -- median annual salary of $68,119

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Animal & Diary Sciences

Business and Industry

Animal scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products. This concentration will prepare you to specialize in agricultural businesses within the animal industry.

Career Opportunities:

• Agricultural extension agent - median annual salary of $45,550
• Breed association representative - median annual salary of $43,080
• Dairy herd manager/owner - median annual salary of $64,130
• Dairy inspector - median annual salary of $44,140

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Biochemistry

Pre-MBA

This concentration combines a strong biochemistry background matched with business courses. It will prepare those wishing to enter the biotech or agribusiness industry to tackle an advanced business degree.

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Environmental Economics & Sustainability

Environmental Economics and Sustainability

Want to make a living by making a difference? This major combines courses in science, government, and economics to prepare you for a variety of careers in the public and private sector, or for graduate or law school.

Career Opportunities:

• Environmental consultant - median annual salary of $67,490
• Project manager - median annual salary of $90,130
• Resource policy advocate - median annual salary of $112,190
• Resource manager - median annual salary of $63,455

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Fashion Design & Merchandising

Merchandising

Prepare to enter the business of fashion. This concentration combines an overview of the fashion industry, consumer behavior, product development, planning, buying, business operations, and entrepreneurship.

Career Opportunities:

• Advertising copywriter — median annual salary of $47,830
• Fashion coordinator — median annual salary of $48,000
• Visual merchandiser — median annual salary of $39,710

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Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion

Business and Industry

This concentration combines chemistry and business courses, along with electives within the major, to prepare you to pursue an agricultural business career in the food industry.

Career Opportunities:

• Agricultural extension agent - median annual salary of $45,550
• Breed association representative - median annual salary of $43,080
• Dairy herd manager/owner - median annual salary of $64,130
• Dairy inspector - median annual salary of $44,140

Nutrition

This concentration is an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and prepares you for a career with state agencies, in food service, or with major food manufacturers. It will also provide a solid foundation for entering a master’s program, if you wish to become a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN).

Career Opportunities:

• Corporate wellness consultant - median annual salary of $55,051
• Clinical nutritionist - median annual salary of $50,000
• Food product development scientist - median annual salary of $65,000
• Humanitarian nutritionist - median annual salary of $53,470

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Landscape Contracting & Management

Landscape Contracting and Management

This program will prepare you to become a landscape contractor, working with landscape architects to actualize projects and providing the management and maintenance needed to keep those projects in prime condition after implementation.

Career Opportunities:

• Land management specialist — median annual salary of $61,110
• Landscape account manager — median annual salary of $62,920
• Landscape contractor — median annual salary of $50,100

Poultry Science

Applied Poultry Management

This concentration satisfies all the requirements for a minor in Agribusiness and will prepare you to enter into all areas of the poultry industry with the knowledge necessary to be successful.

Career Opportunities:

• Complex Compliance Officer - median annual salary of $68,880
• Feed Mill Manager - median annual salary of $78,815
• Hatchery Manager - median annual salary of $58,538
• Poultry Nutritionist - median annual salary of $50,678

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