Agricultural Engineers Job Description

Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture and Biological Engineering

Engineers integrate technology with farming. They design new and improved farming equipment that may work better. They build and design agricultural infrastructure.

They may be able to help with pollution control on large farms. Some agricultural engineers are working on new forms of bio-diesel from non-food resources. Most agricultural engineers are involved in core activities.

Most professionals design and test agricultural machinery. They may also design food storage structures. Some may design environments for animals.

Occasionally overtime is part of the work of agricultural engineers. They may work long hours to make progress on projects during good weather. They are often called to manage problems on projects.

A bachelor's degree is required in agricultural or biological engineering to get entry-level jobs. The programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies. It is highly recommended to participate in a program to gain practical experience.

The Careers of Agricultural Engineer

Over the decade, about 100 openings for agricultural engineers are projected each year. Most of the openings are expected to be caused by the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire. Agricultural engineers try to solve agricultural problems by using structures and facilities, using machinery, and using power supplies that are efficient.

Agricultural engineers work in offices, but may also work indoors and outdoors. They can travel to agricultural settings to see that equipment and machinery are functioning according to the manufacturers specifications. Some agricultural engineers work in laboratories to test their equipment.

They may work on water resource management projects. Agricultural engineers work with others to solve problems. They work with people from a variety of fields.

Engineers work full time. Weather conditions or other factors may affect the schedule. Agricultural engineers may work more hours if the weather is good or less hours if it is bad.

High school courses in math and science will help students interested in studying agricultural engineering. University students take courses in a number of subjects. They can take courses in economics, public policy, and business.

Agricultural Engineers

Technical problems affect agricultural efficiency. They can specialize in a lot of different areas. They combine their knowledge of engineering and biological science to improve power supply, agricultural machinery, irrigation, pollution issues, building structures, food processing, soil and water conserver, and more.

Most agricultural engineers work full time, but their schedules can vary depending on the project they are working on. Longer hours may be required for outdoor projects. Agricultural engineers use computer technology to design equipment.

They may design vehicles that are able to perform agricultural tasks in difficult weather conditions. Agricultural engineers are responsible for drafting designs, reviewing technical specifications, and adjusting engineering plans for compliance with regulations. Agricultural engineers use a variety of tools to provide advice on land pollution, water quality, and soil conditions.

They make suggestions to increase agricultural productivity. Agricultural engineers apply relevant engineering methods, procedures, and criteria to fix and repair livestock and crop facilities. They use their judgement to modify designs for increased efficiency.

Agricultural engineers are involved in construction projects related to issues like water drainage. Engineers are tasked with building structures for loading, food processing, animal processing, and crop storing. Agricultural engineers discuss progress with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers to keep the project on track.

Associate Engineers

Associate engineers are qualified engineers who are responsible for designing, developing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining products, equipment and processes. Civil engineers have different duties than mechanical engineers, for example, because of the organization and industry they work in. The common factor is that associate engineers use their technical knowledge to perform routine engineering tasks, such as performing calculations, operating machinery and preparing reports.

You will probably play a junior role in large, complex projects and manage smaller projects on your own, under the supervision of a senior engineer. Associate engineers typically have between one and three years of work experience under their belt, but some get the "associate engineer" job title from the start. If you provide engineering services to the public, you need to earn state licensure.

A four-year degree in engineering is required for licensure. If you enroll in a graduate program after you finish your engineering degree, you will show employers that you have the best knowledge in that field. Associate engineers are in every engineering profession, including aeronautical, agricultural, chemical, civil, computer hardware, design, electrical, architectural, environmental, geological, industrial, mechanical, nuclear and petroleum engineering.

Depending on your specialty, working conditions can be vastly different. A computer hardware engineer will work from an office, but a petroleum engineer will spend most of his time on a rig. Engineers travel extensively to perform various types of field work in factories and laboratories.

Building, Thinking and Persuading Interest Area in Agriculture

The Holland Code framework states that agricultural engineers have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Persuading interest areas. The focus of the Building interest area is on working with tools and machines. The thinking interest area focuses on researching, investigating and increasing the understanding of natural laws.

The focus of persuasion interest area is influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. If you don't know if you have a Building or Thinking or Persuading interest that would fit with a career as an agricultural engineer, you can take a career test. Analytical skills are required.

Agricultural engineers have to be able to propose solutions that work well with other workers, machinery and equipment, and the environment, because they sometimes design systems that are part of a larger agricultural or environmental system. Listening skills are important. Agricultural engineers need to listen to and seek out information from other people working on a project.

They must be able to address the concerns of those who will use the systems and solutions they design. The median annual wage for agricultural engineers was $80,000 in May. Half of the workers in an occupation earn more than the median wage, and half earn less.

Agricultural engineers are involved in designing instruments that make farming less stress for farmers. They need to do a bit of research and fieldwork to understand certain patterns that might be observed with farming. Design, construction and maintenance of farming equipment and machinery are some of the aspects of agricultural engineering.

They help to improve farming processes by using technology. You have to work both in and out of the office when you are an engineer. There are days when you have to offer consultation services to clients with appropriate presentation tools in the office, while there are other days where you have to travel long distances to do site inspections.

Some problems are solved by collaborating with people in the agricultural sector. You need an undergraduate degree in agricultural sciences, engineering or economics to become an agricultural engineer. If you want to advance into management positions, you should take a course in business administration, project management or a postgraduate degree in agricultural engineering.

The Pay of an Agriculture Engineer

Agricultural engineers are responsible for creating products from plants and animals. They use scientific principles to find cost-effective solutions to problems such as the food you eat, and the forest products you use. Good communication and business skills are required for the job of an agricultural engineer.

Food production companies and pharmaceutical companies use agricultural and biological engineers to market their products. Alternative energy firms are looking for biological engineers to work on the development of fuels. Agricultural and biological engineers are employed by federal and state regulatory agencies.

Consultants work on environmental protection, pollution control and resource management. Some people work for manufacturing firms that make farm equipment. A four-year bachelor's degree is required to be an agricultural or biological engineer.

The course of study includes lab and field work. Students can gain practical experience through internship or cooperative employment programs. Students take courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, engineering analysis and design, and topics such as fluid mechanics and environmental engineering.

After graduating, prospective agricultural and biological engineers must pass a Fundamentals of Engineering exam and work for about four years under the supervision of licensed engineers before they can take the Professional Engineer exam. The median salary for agricultural and biological engineers was $74,000 in 2012 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best-paid 10 percent made over $120,000 and the lowest 10 percent made less than $50,000.

Agricultural engineers work in offices, but may also work indoors and outdoors. They can travel to agricultural settings to see that equipment and machinery are functioning according to the specifications of the manufacturers. Some agricultural engineers work in laboratories to test their equipment.

They may work on water resource management projects. A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level jobs in agricultural engineering. Bachelor's degree programs in agricultural engineering or biological engineering typically include hands-on components in areas such as science, math, and engineering principles.

College and universities encourage students to gain practical experience through engineering competition projects in which teams of students design equipment and try to solve real problems Each state has its own licenses. Most states will recognize licensure from other states if the requirements meet or exceed their own requirements.

Engineers in several states must take continuing education to keep their licenses. Check with your state's licensing board for licensing requirements. Agricultural engineers may be able to supervise a team of engineers.

Some people advance to become engineering managers. Agricultural engineers who become sales engineers use their engineering background to discuss a product's technical aspects with potential buyers and to help in product planning, installation, and use. The median wage for agricultural engineers is $84,410.

A Survey of the Indian Agricultural Engineering Sector

Candidates who have completed M.Tech can join government bodies to make important decisions related to agricultural development. The agricultural domain is growing fast. New projects and development programs have increased the demand for an expert engineer.

Engineers working on a project need enough fieldwork to complete it. They have to work on the equipment to see if it is perfect or not. The average annual pay for agricultural engineers is 77,100 dollars.

The salary in private sector firms is between 2.5 and 4.5 million per annum. The pay scale is different for each company. The pay scale in private companies is less than in government committees.

Career options that are compelling include agricultural production and research engineers, farm equipment engineers, agricultural research engineers, biosystems engineers and many more. A student who gets 50% marks in the Science stream will be eligible to enroll in the B.Tech program. B.Tech in agricultural engineering and M.Tech in agricultural engineering are popular courses in the programs.

Candidates who have completed the Science stream can appear in agricultural entrance exams. The average cost of completing B.Tech in agricultural engineering is over 3 million dollars. The amount charged by the government colleges is less than the private colleges.

Wildlife biologists and zoologists spend a lot of time observing and studying all kinds of animals and marine life. You could investigate the impact of wildlife on agricultural farms or develop programmes to protect one of the 26% of mammal species that face extinction. A person who is analytical and organised is needed to manage a farm.

The experience of previous agricultural work is important, as is the degree of complexity of modern farms. Engineers test agricultural equipment and machinery to make sure they work correctly and that they were made within government regulations. Most manufacturers need agricultural engineers to work overtime even on weekends.

Environmental engineers are important to agriculture because they help improve the conditions for planting and growing. Environmental engineers combine principles from different science fields to create systems that aim to prevent future damages. Natural sciences managers coordinate and supervise other scientists and technicians on a variety of research and development projects.

Agricultural Technicians

Agricultural equipment technicians maintain machines and implements. They perform preventive maintenance, which may include changing the oil and lubricating the moving parts. Diagnostic tests and repairs are performed when they detect a malfunction.

Agricultural equipment technicians need to be able to read and interpret manual, use computers to diagnose problems and document repairs. Some agricultural equipment technicians make parts, repair machines or even make electrical systems. Farm warehouse managers are responsible for overseeing all activities related to storing, shipping and receiving agricultural materials.

They send and receive shipments. They use artificial intelligence and software to make sure inventory levels are kept within limits. They specialize in livestock production, which requires them to develop methods to raise healthy animals and produce maximum yield.

Marketing involves designing print, television, radio and digital agricultural marketing campaigns. Environmental engineers create plans and systems for better drainage and more efficient waste disposal. Environmental engineers are responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of the systems they develop.