Agricultural Technicians
Key Tasks
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
- Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification.
- Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively.
- Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
- Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing.
- Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability.
- Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results.
- Collect animal or crop samples.
- Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests.
- Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems.
- Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application.
- Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing.
- Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers.
- Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent.
- Conduct insect or plant disease surveys.
- Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions.
- Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
- Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas.
- Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants.
- Prepare culture media, following standard procedures.
- Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public.
- Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations.
- Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
90%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
88%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
83%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
82%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
76%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
75%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
74%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
74%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
73%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
71%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
71%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
70%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
70%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
70%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
69%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
67%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
65%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
65%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
64%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
62%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
61%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
61%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
58%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
57%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
57%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
57%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
57%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
56%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
55%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
54%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
54%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
54%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
53%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
52%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
49%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
48%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
47%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
47%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
47%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
47%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
42%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
42%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
39%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
33%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
33%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
32%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
32%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
31%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
31%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
27%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
27%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
26%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
22%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
20%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
8%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
7%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
2%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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