What Do Precision Agriculture Technician Do?
Example of Precision Agriculture Technician Job Apply 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.
Precision Agriculture Technician Responsibilities
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.
- Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
- Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.
- Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.
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Precision Agriculture Technician Required Skills
When polled, Precision Agriculture Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Other Precision Agriculture Technician Job Titles
- Precision Agronomist
- Soil Fertility Specialist
- Research Agricultural Engineer
- Agronomy Specialist
- Field Agronomist
Is There Going to be Demand for Precision Agriculture Technicians?
In the United States, there were 76,100 jobs for Precision Agriculture Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 7,400 new jobs for Precision Agriculture Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 9,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Precision Agriculture Technician are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Maine, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Precision Agriculture Technicians Salary
The average yearly salary of a Precision Agriculture Technician ranges between $29,830 and $80,370.
Precision Agriculture Technicians who work in Maryland, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
How much do Precision Agriculture Technicians make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $46,600 |
Alaska | $56,470 |
Arizona | $51,250 |
Arkansas | $50,740 |
California | $56,670 |
Colorado | $51,890 |
Connecticut | $62,090 |
District of Columbia | $61,000 |
Florida | $45,200 |
Georgia | $52,690 |
Hawaii | $57,310 |
Idaho | $42,220 |
Illinois | $51,130 |
Indiana | $51,970 |
Iowa | $46,740 |
Kansas | $51,960 |
Kentucky | $52,340 |
Louisiana | $47,250 |
Maine | $55,220 |
Maryland | $69,500 |
Massachusetts | $63,450 |
Michigan | $43,640 |
Minnesota | $50,440 |
Mississippi | $52,950 |
Missouri | $49,590 |
Montana | $43,930 |
Nebraska | $58,150 |
Nevada | $47,690 |
New Hampshire | $57,990 |
New Jersey | $60,660 |
New Mexico | $59,850 |
New York | $53,380 |
North Carolina | $53,390 |
North Dakota | $52,050 |
Ohio | $52,690 |
Oklahoma | $57,950 |
Oregon | $51,800 |
Pennsylvania | $50,410 |
Rhode Island | $59,480 |
South Carolina | $56,910 |
South Dakota | $45,190 |
Tennessee | $43,440 |
Texas | $54,290 |
Utah | $50,980 |
Virginia | $52,180 |
Washington | $55,920 |
West Virginia | $55,930 |
Wisconsin | $52,500 |
Wyoming | $53,940 |
What Tools do Precision Agriculture Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Precision Agriculture Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- ESRI ArcView
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcPad
- MapShots EASi Suite
- SST Development Group SSToolbox
- John Deere Apex Farm Management
- Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
- Trimble AgGPS EZ-Map
Becoming a Precision Agriculture Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become a Precision Agriculture Technician?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Precision Agriculture Technicians Sector
Below are examples of industries where Precision Agriculture Technicians work:
Related Careers
Those who work as a Precision Agriculture Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: U.S. Department of Energy from United States via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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