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A
Job to Love
Imagine driving a four-wheeler down
a bush trail that opens up to a beautiful
field of flax. You stop the engine and
make your way into the field where you’re
running a crop trial to control the
weeds that rob flax of soil nutrients.
The purple flowers form gentle waves
around you and make you feel relaxed.
The crop appears healthy. Everything
is just as the lab reports said—your
trial is growing well without the use
of chemical herbicides. You smile, knowing
your efforts will help farmers improve
their crops and help the soil at the
same time.
Agricultural
technicians help scientists and
farmers develop better ways to manage
plant and animal farms. They do some
work in laboratories, but work mostly
outdoors on farms and in fields and
pastures. Many agricultural technicians
live where they grew up. Aboriginal
agricultural technicians protect the
environment by finding ways to grow
native crops without the use of chemical
pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
Outdoor
jobs aren’t always perfect. During
planting and harvest seasons, the
work is physically and emotionally
tiring. You’ll spend 12 to 13
hours a day out in the field, which
makes it difficult to find time for
family and friends. As an agricultural
technician, you’ll also work
outside in all kinds of weather. On
the other hand, the change of seasons
brings less work and you can enjoy
a change of pace.
Job
Description
Agricultural technicians have all the
technical knowledge required to run
a farm. They can specialize in many
different areas, including food, plant,
soil, and animal technology. For example,
an agricultural technician might examine
soil and weather conditions, and suggest
crops that will grow well under local
conditions. Agricultural technicians
work for private farms, agricultural
firms, farm machinery companies, research
facilities, and the government. Many
agricultural technicians are self-employed
consultants.
Job
Duties
- Help
farmers pick the best seeds, animals,
and farming methods for their farms
- Create
environmental farming plans
- Direct
plant and crop trials
- Study
ways to preserve and store food
- Study
the effects of food on animal growth
- Develop
planting techniques that conserve
soil
- Develop
compost and farm waste management
programs
- Plant
seeds
- Harvest
and store agricultural products
- Operate
and maintain farm machinery and
equipment
Fact
Corn, or maize, is becoming widely
used, and not only for food or bio-energy.
Corncobs are used in industrial processes,
such as surface finishing and heat
and sound insulation. Corn particles
are also used to pack fragile goods.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include physical education,
biology, chemistry, math, social studies,
and English. Aboriginal studies, history,
and languages will prepare you for working
in a multi-cultural setting. Talk to
your career or academic counsellor about
options such as geography and accounting.
The
minimum education requirement for
an agricultural technician is a college
diploma in agricultural technology.
Advanced degrees will make you more
competitive in the job market and
will make it easier to get a research
job and negotiate your salary.
Before entering the workforce,
climate change specialists might require
training in:
- CPR
and First Aid
- Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) use
- Workplace
Hazardous Materials Information
System (WHMIS)
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Agricultural
technicians with a college diploma
make an average of $32,000.00 per
year.
Agricultural
technicians with a university degree
make an average of $44,000.00 per
year.
Agricultural
technicians with several years experience
and education make an average of $68,000.00
per year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following awards are
specific to agricultural technicians:
Henry Favel Scholarship, University
of Saskatchewan
$1000.00 to a full-time student of
Treaty Indian ancestry in a degree
or diploma program in agriculture.
Contact: Student Awards, University
of Saskatchewan
105 Administration Place
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 5AC
Telephone: (306) 966-6748
Fax: (306) 966-6730
UGG
Agricultural Scholarship
Awarded amount varies.
To students of Aboriginal descent
from the Prairie Provinces.
Contact:
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
70 Yorkville Avenue, Suite 33A
Toronto, ON
M5R 1B9
Telephone: (416) 926-0775
Fax: (416) 926-7554
email: naaf@istar.ca
website: www.naaf.ca
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders what methods
they used to improve soil health and
grow crops without pesticides and
fertilizers. Go horseback riding and
camping with your family. The time
you spend outdoors will make your
studies easier and your experience
with the natural world will appeal
to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Botanist
- Forester
- Forest
fire fighter
- Tree
planter
Relate
and interact with climate change specialists.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
Agricultural Institute of Canada
1112-1141 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5J3
Telephone: (613) 232-9459
Fax: (613) 594-5190
email: office@aic.ca
website: www.aic.ca
Canadian
Federation of Agriculture
75 Albert Street, Suit 1101
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5E7
Telephone: (613) 236-3633
Fax: (613) 236-5749
email: cfafca@fox.nstn.ca
website: www.cfa-fca.ca
Relate
to other students. There are Aboriginal
student associations and resource
centres at most universities. Visit
these centres to find out what they
have to offer. Also, look into community,
friendship, and multi-cultural centres.
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