One of the job categories in agriculture facing a talent shortage is agronomy.
“First and foremost, I think it’s a lack of enthusiasm at a young age to get into the field of agronomy and agriculture, in general,” said Eric Welsh with the American Society of Agronomy. “A deficiency in the number of graduates to the demand of the industry, we’re talking at least two to 3,000 individuals short graduating from college every year. So the demand’s there.”
Welsh added that most colleges do not offer a strict agronomy degree, with agronomic education coming in the form of plant pathology or crop sciences.
The best way to spark student interest in the agronomy field is through mentoring.
“Most of the time, you’re going to have that science-based study versus in-field application,” said Welsh. “It all leads to the same end: growing that crop. Through our mentorship that pairs up students with agronomists out in the field, that’s another way to get them involved, just getting more and more students experience in the field and giving them an opportunity to work day-to-day.”
ASA has an undergraduate program called Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences, or SASES, which connects college students with professionals in the agronomy field.
This report is from our partners at the USDA.
