Precision Agriculture Technicians

map data information realistic interests global positioning system technology soil geospatial data computer

Agronomist, Crop Specialist, Precision Agriculture Specialist (Precision Ag Specialist), Precision Agronomist

What they do:
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
On the job, you would:
  • Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
  • Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
  • Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.

Knowledge

Business

  • customer service
  • sales and marketing

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Visual Understanding

  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Persistence
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Geographic information system

  • ESRI ArcGIS software Hot Technology
  • Geographic information system GIS systems

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Analytical or scientific software

  • Farm Works Site Pro
  • MapShots EASi Suite

Education

bachelor's degree or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Salary:

$46,790
$32,860
$69,010
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about precision agriculture technicians.