Agriculture as a college major?

[Groo]

only if it would be a profitable business.

 

[ericm979]

Also keep in mind that he doesn't have to stick to ag as a career, but having a degree will help in whatever career he ends up in. I got a degree in Wildlife Biology. I worked in that field for a while but ended up in tech doing stuff related to security and encryption. The degree helped me in a few ways- first off many people just won't hire someone without a degree, even if it's unrelated. Second, my major was difficult. No one finished in four years, most took five. The computer science and engineering classes I added on were easier. Going through that made me really learn how to study and apply myself. That's helped me a lot in my career. Last, it gave me time to mature as a person. Some people might be ready to be a farmer or business owner at age 18; I sure wasn't.

 

[bigtiller]

20 percent of Iowa's GDP is agriculture related. We are not all farmers.

There is a whole host of possible job opportunities with an Ag. degree.

 

[Sigarms]

Nobody has asked: Is he the type that will probably work for others (agri-business), or will he likely have his own business or farm?

Often you need a degree to get in the door of the first, but really only need an education for the second. There is a difference.

Given that a 4 year degree might cost $100,000 plus (but can be done cheaper), it's a classic argument as a parent: Is it better for you and your kid to invest that $100,000 to set up a business (or down payment on a farm, etc..) instead?

His personality is he'd do it himself, and we're still working on that:laughing:

My 4 year degree in the 80's cost me $22,000 out the door less room and meals. THIS is why I asked to begin with as talking to a guy, his daughter is at Wake Forest and cost more than my four year degree EACH year she's in school It makes no sense in my mind to invest the money unless your job career at least offers you a chance to make a return on investment on the education.

This is where the work ethic comes into play IMO as well. I wasn't a great student in college, however, I applied myself in work and showed my superiors that they could count on me. The reality is IMO is you could start off working at McDonalds without a degree, and as long as you applied yourself, you can become successful.

Heck, I've hired people who needed a job, and then they call in sick two days later. The reality is sometimes finding someone dependable can be hard.

That said, in my line of work dealing with a trade and business, it's just as important to understand the business side IMO if you expect to stay in business if you're the owner of a company.

Sincerely appreciate the feedback. My fear was I could kiss a buttload of money down the tube just for a degree I've never really thought of.

 

[smstonypoint]

20 percent of Iowa's GDP is agriculture related. We are not all farmers.

There is a whole host of possible job opportunities with an Ag. degree.

Yes.

From Food and fiber system - Wikipedia

Steve

 

[DrRod]

I agree with those who point out the wide range of careers in agriculture. I know a guy who started in sales/tradeshows for an ag chemical company and rose to a senior VP position.

But for me, the real story behind any degree is to check with the placement office. See what companies are recruiting from the school and for what kind of jobs. That will tell you if the wider world places any value on the degree and what sort of work it qualifies you for.

 

[fried1765]

My wife has a BS in agribusiness management and rural development and a masters in agriculture. When she graduated she became an extension agent (started out a little over $50k in Virginia over 10 years ago). After we moved she became a loan officer for Farm Credit (paid even better and was really suited to her and her major). Now she works for the government and doesn't use her degree and it pays much better but it was all bc she had a masters. Didn't matter what the masters was in.

As others have alluded to here, what the specific degree is in, often does not really matter.
My oldest son has a BS in computer science, and a second BS in economics.
What is he doing?
He is a (pilot) Fleet Captain for Delta Airlines, managing the operation of 245 of the airplanes & crews in Delta's fleet.
Who wouda thunk it?

During the Vietnam era, I went through Navy flight training with guys who had every sort of degree you can think of. One of my best friends had a degree in music.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Another thing to consider these days is skilled trades.

My youngest daughter recently graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. After about 6 months searching for a job locally, she came to work for me full time. This is great for me, but she is not really using her degree working for me.

By contrast, my nephew who is the same age as my daughter went to trade school for about 10 months after finishing high school for equipment operator and found a job immediatly making about $28 per hour.

Basic welders start out at about $30 an hour around here. Plumbers, electricians, air condition techs, etc. are all very high paying jobs compared to some degreed jobs.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I would just comment that agriculture is a huge umbrella. A specialist in animal husbandry would have a lot of trouble managing row crop contracts for a cannery or evaluating the quality of imported produce. Nursery plants are different from nut and fruit orchards and have very little in common with corn or soybeans. A degree in agriculture is a jumping off point to a complex technical field.

 

[MossRoad]

... My worst fear was that an agriculture degree was kind of like a liberal of arts degree, and I see that isn't the reality.

Why do people knock liberal arts degrees? Liberal arts is the college. The courses you take under that college are what counts. My kid did a double major in anthropology and sociology and a triple minor in Spanish, forensics, and law and society. Then she went to grad school and got her masters in community organization and social administration. She has a very good job doing very worthwhile work.

As for an Ag degree...
I have a friend that has an Ag degree and specialized in Agronomy... turf. He spent some time managing a golf course, was the sexton in a cemetery, and ended up working for our state's department of environmental management. Makes a pretty good living at it, too.