Cran Career Spotlight: Crop Consultant
Overview
A crop consultant uses their knowledge to help growers/farmers make best management decisions based on scientific observation and data. Crop Consultants may also extend their crop knowledge to advise markets and producers in food safety and food quality. They act as a liaison between researchers and farmers to help implement current research to farm practices.
What is this career like?
Crop consultants can work in the field, laboratories, and offices. During the growing season crop consultants visit fields to make observations and collect data to help farmers in season. During harvest crop consultants may work in laboratories or receiving stations advising food safety and food quality. In the winter, crop consultants work in offices preparing farm management plans and analyzing data.
Some of the things crop consultants might do:
Identify insects, weeds, and diseases to develop an Integrated Pest Management Plan.
Collect soil and tissue samples to help form a Nutrient Management Plan.
Observe and collect data to help growers with Water Management Plans.
Act as a liaison between researchers and farmers to help implement current research on farms.
Participate and collect scientific data for research.
Conduct laboratory analysis and/or oversee food safety and food quality during harvest.
Analysis data and present findings to farmers.
Work closely with farmers to develop and implement whole farm management plans.
What skills are needed?
Analytical skills. Crop Consultants base their recommendations on careful analysis of scientific data. They must consider all possible methods and solutions in their analyses.
Communication skills. Crop Consultants present and explain their findings to audiences of varying backgrounds writing daily reports. They may also write technical reports for various platforms.
Interpersonal skills. Crop Consultants typically work on teams along with crop scouts, growers, technicians, and researchers. Team members must be able to work together effectively to achieve their goals.
Problem-solving skills. Crop Consultants try to find the best possible solution to problems that affect the plant health while keeping the environment safe.
Self-discipline. Crop Consultants may spend a lot of time working alone. They need to stay motivated and get their work done efficiently.
What education is required?
For most entry-level jobs, Crop Consultants have a bachelor’s or associate degree in an agriculture field or a science-related field, such as Horticulture, Agronomy, Crop Science, Conservation, Soil Science or Entomology. Field experience is just as important. Field experience can be gained under supervision from an experience Crop Consultant.
Specialized courses that are helpful include: Soil Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, Entomology, Crop Physiology, Environment Science, Conservation, Chemistry, Meteorology and Plant Pathology. Understanding the plants and how they react to the environment around them is essential.