Careers 101: Agriculture Jobs in California

Published on 2008-05-20

Schools:

Advances in genomics, biotechnology, environmental science, agroecology, sustainable agriculture and related subjects have created a whole new generation of agriculture jobs in California. Though some field hands and a decreasing number of farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers may be without university or even high school degrees, contemporary agriculture requires a great deal of specialized knowledge, and an associate or bachelor's degree has become an important requirement for successful agricultural careers of all kinds. Depending on one's occupation, a career in agriculture may require an undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree in farm management, agronomy, business, crop science or a broader scientific subject such as biology or chemistry. Many colleges and universities in California have departments dedicated to agricultural and environmental sciences. These include University of California-Davis, California State University-Fresno, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, and University of California-Berkeley.

Employers:

The California agriculture industry is more than double the size of any other state's, with revenues surpassing $30 billion a year. Farms, ranches, dairies and vineyards can be found all throughout CA. The California Department of Food and Agriculture puts the number of farms and ranches in the state at nearly 90,000. The Central Valley is a leading region for California agriculture jobs, while Napa Valley is famed for its wineries. California is also home to many agricultural research, sales, equipment, and manufacturing companies.