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Precision Agriculture Technician

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AVG. SALARY

$42,980

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EDUCATION

Associate's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Precision Agriculture Technicians Career Video

About This Career

Applies geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics cluster Science and Mathematics pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Collects information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
  • Uses geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
  • Documents and maintains records of precision agriculture information.
  • Demonstrates the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.
  • Identifies spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
  • Applies precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
  • Creates, layers, and analyzes maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
  • Analyzes data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
  • Installs, calibrates, or maintains sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
  • Analyzes geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Irregular hours
  • Overnight travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Crop Specialist
  • Independent Crop Consultant
  • Nutrient Management Specialist
  • Precision Farming Coordinator
  • Soil Fertility Specialist
  • Precision Agriculture Specialist (Precision Ag Specialist)

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support