14
Agriculture
Careers in agriculture are not always thought of as being part
of the skilled trades, but many of the jobs that exist in this
extremely important industry are highly technical roles that bear
much kinship with the other categories we have discussed so
far.
Agriculture, of course, is the broad term that describes the
practice of cultivating plants and livestock to provide food,
clothing, and other vital products. We see, enjoy, and survive off
the spoils of agriculture every day. From the food on your table
to the sweater you wear when it gets cold, so much of what we
need to survive is thanks to farmers and agriculture operations.
Skilled trades jobs in agriculture include farmers, animal
husbandry experts, nursery and greenhouse professionals,
landscape architects, ag equipment operators, precision agricul-
tural specialists, and more. In addition, many of the jobs we have
discussed as part of other skilled trades categories can overlap
into agriculture, from welders (who might play roles in building
or servicing farming machinery, dairy equipment, grain storage
silos, and more) to electricians (who might assist farmers in
designing, implementing, and servicing equipment that allows
for greater efficiency and automation of crop care, cultivation,
and harvesting).
Agriculture is an inviting pathway for skilled trades students for
a lot of reasons. The first and foremost is that this career path
is largely future-proof. While ag has evolved over the years (and
will continue to evolve in the future), there will never come a
time when our society does not require the services that farms
provide. There will always be a need for people who understand
the science of soil, plants, and animals.
Agriculture is also evolving, with new precision technologies,
sustainable farming techniques, innovations in indoor farming,
and other trends paving the way toward a future where the food