How to become An Agricultural Consultant

• Agricultural Specialist
• Agriculture Expert
• Agribusiness Expert

What do Agricultural Consultants do?

An Agricultural Consultant would typically need to:

• Provide advisory services to farmers and livestock producers on production issues like cultivation | fertilization | harvesting | animal care
• Visit clients to identify and evaluate their business and/or technical requirements
• Assist clients with business planning | planning applications | government grant applications | legislative advice | new business ventures
• Conduct research and implement new technology and practices
• Analyze agricultural data and prepare research reports
• Maintain records of services provided and their results
• Educate farmers and agriculture business owners on understanding and complying with environmental pollution-control laws and regulations
• Recruit funds for the development and implementation of research
• Conduct land valuations
• Ensure compliance with current legislation and use of governmental schemes
• Develop and maintain a set of client contacts
• Maintain up-to-date on developments in the area of specialisation, as well as the wider agricultural sector
• Organise and conduct field trials to find solutions to clients' problems
• Organise presentations | demonstrations | training | farm walks for clients | colleagues | partnership organisations | professional bodies | interested groups
• Write advisory leaflets | technical notes | press releases | articles
• Market and promote your consultancy services
• Carry out administrative duties | manage budgets and accounts | update information | prepare reports

Agricultural consultants may work in locations ranging from ranches and farms to consulting firms. Client meetings generally take place at the office of the agricultural consultant or that of the client. If extensive research is involved, agricultural consultants spend most of their time in the field. Agricultural consultants travel from client meetings to their own office quite frequently. They travel to laboratories to meet with scientists helping with their research. They may also travel to local government or conservation organization meetings to represent or accompany the client. Depending on the location, the dress code may range from casual to business casual.

The work week tends to be from Monday to Friday with variations related to the season and client’s needs. Working hours are often demanding and varied as clients may need to meet in the evenings or over weekends. Unsocial hours are typically the norm especially during busy periods.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Agricultural Consultants can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Once enough experience has been gained, you may choose to become self-employed.

Agricultural Consultants are generally employed by:

• Agricultural Development Agencies
• Public Sector Organisations
• Charities
• Conservation Bodies
• Home and Foreign Governments
• Farm Management Consultancy Firms
• Farmers
• Growers
• Landowners
• Farming Co-operatives

Professional associations and organizations are a key resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks great on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.

• Most work concentrated in outdoor locations
• Driving skills mandatory
• Driving for long periods
• Travel away from home

Entry into agricultural consultancy and advisory work is competitive: relevant experience, regardless of the specialization chosen, will give you a professional edge in the job market. Experience gained through farm management | rural surveying or planning | other types of agricultural work is invaluable.

Competitive scores in and passion for Biology | Chemistry | Mathematics | Computer Science | Economics will prove advantageous to high schoolers. An undergraduate degree in Agronomy | Soil Science | Environmental Science | Renewable Resource Management | Land Reclamation | Agriculture | Horticulture is highly recommended. A business consultancy role in agriculture may be facilitated with a business degree. A relevant postgraduate qualification may be necessary to work overseas.

Most agricultural consultants must validate their degrees in the country in which they work. They must also be eligible for membership in a professional association.

Agricultural consultants usually begin working under more experienced professionals. Career growth depends on the agricultural issues at hand | the geographical location | the local government. Career progression is likely to be from junior consultant to senior consultant, then to team leader with the possibility of an invitation to become a partner or director. It is often related to experience | expertise | performance | willingness to relocate | specialization. Specific positions depend on the specific company | field | specialty. There is no set career structure, although setting up your own consultancy may be the ultimate step in an agriculturally-based career.

The more experience an individual possesses, the higher the likelihood they will get hired. Competition can be high, so demonstrating a solid background helps get hired. Consulting is the highest level an individual may go to within this field, and the growth potential can be optimal.

Personal contacts, short courses, attendance at conferences, and membership of professional bodies are invaluable in helping Agricultural Consultants keep up to date both in their specialist area and in the agricultural sector as a whole.

Focus on a particular area, like pollution control, forestry consultancy, and crop rotation will help you progress in the field. Promotions are often related to experience, performance, relocation, and specialization. Further study into a niche area may help career progression.

Agricultural Consultants can expect support and additional training from Vitae, a non-profit global leader with over 50 years’ experience in enhancing researchers’ skills. In partnership with governments, funders of research, academies, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, universities, and research institutes, Vitae offers training, resources, events, consultancy, and membership.

Agricultural Consultants primarily focus on crop choice & rotation, cultivation & harvesting, soil & water issues, and animal husbandry & nutrition. They work closely with farmers and livestock producers to ensure the latter’s business is successful.

In the public and charity sector, your development is likely to be linked to extent of responsibility and performance. Smaller consultancies may limit the possibilities of promotion and require relocation or specialization.

With 40 percent of the global population working in it, agriculture becomes the single largest employer in the world.

Agriculture is the foundation of civilization and any stable economy. It's the production of food and fiber from the world’s land and waters. As an agricultural consultant you will be able to mentor farmers and livestock producers in the shortest and most effective routes to improving global health through better nutrition. You will be the reason why humankind can be served the kind of food they know the story behind!

A wise man hears one word and understands two. My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.