Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists
Career Overview
Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists:
- Provide assistance and advice to farmers on all aspects of farm management, cultivation, fertilization, harvesting, soil erosion and composition, disease prevention, nutrition, crop rotation and marketing
- Work for businesses, institutions and governments that assist the farming community, or they may be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists:
- Provide counselling and advisory services to farmers on crop cultivation and fertilization, harvesting, animal and poultry care, disease prevention, farm management, farm financing, marketing and other agricultural subjects
- Prepare and carry out information sessions and lectures for farmers and other groups
- Carry out research, analyze agricultural data and prepare research reports
- Communicate with researchers, educators, and government or business managers on matters relating to farming and agriculture
- Keep records of services provided and the effects of advice given
Special duties
Workers in this group may concentrate on aspects of agriculture such as:
- Animal science
- Field crops
- Horticulture
- Soil science
- Irrigation
- Drainage
- Farm management
- Marketing
- Agricultural economics
- Land use
- Environmental management
- Appraisal
- Extension
- Education
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
440% Employed Full Time
56%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- A bachelor's or master's degree in agriculture or in a related science is required
- Membership or eligibility for membership in a provincial institute of agrology is usually required
- In Quebec, membership in the Ordre professionnel des agronomes is mandatory
Those who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Agrologists can contact the BC Institute of Agrologists for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Agriculture Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
440Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 15 | 3.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 180 | 41.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 15 | 3.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 165 | 37.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 55 | 12.6% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
120Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 50 | 1.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 50 | 0.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 20 | 0.8% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 50 |
| Agriculture and Fishing | 20 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Wholesale Trade | 10 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 10 |
Resources
-
Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC)www.aic.ca
-
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Councilcahrc-ccrha.ca
-
Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS)www.csss.ca
-
Certified Crop Advisorwww.certifiedcropadviser.org
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