Green Job Series: Careers in Biofuels [Fourth Installment]

The biofuels industry employs a wide range of workers in a variety of occupations. This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles agriculture occupations in the biofuels industry.

Agriculture Occupations

Farms are needed to grow corn, soybeans, and the other feedstocks used in making biofuels. These crops must be planted and cultivated before they are harvested and transported to grain elevators and processing plants.

Job Duties

Farmers and other agricultural managers, sometimes called growers, run establishments that produce crops that are used to make fuel. They supervise work being done by laborers and make decisions about where and when to plant various crops. They oversee the day-to-day operations of the farm or agricultural establishment.

Agricultural laborers maintain the quality of farms and crops by doing manual labor under the supervision of agricultural managers. They plant, cultivate, and harvest crops, which are used as fuel feedstocks.

Agricultural equipment operators operate farm equipment, such as tractors and combines, to sow seeds, and maintain and harvest crops.

Education

Farmers and agricultural managers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, although some may have a degree from an agricultural college. Prospective farmers and agricultural managers typically train and gain experience under more experienced workers. Those farmers and agricultural managers who don't have any postsecondary education may take a longer time to learn some aspects of the job.

Most agricultural laborer and equipment operator positions do not have a formal education requirement. Workers typically learn through on-the-job training. It is important for these workers to have strength and stamina because the work can be physically demanding. Good hand-eye coordination is often needed to harvest crops and operate farm machinery.

Earnings

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the biofuels industry. However, BLS does have green goods and services (GGS) wage data for occupations in agricultural production. The table that follows shows GGS-OCC wages for selected agricultural occupations in November 2011, for establishments that receive all of their revenue from green goods and services. The wages shown are GGS-OCC median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	$52,180
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	$19,130
Agricultural equipment operators	$21,340

For more detailed information on agriculture occupations in the biofuels industry, click the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week’s biofuels industry installment: Plant Operations Occupations

Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [Fifth Installment]

Because agriculture is the largest consumer of water resources, agricultural and grounds maintenance workers have a vital role in water conservation. Agricultural workers use more efficient irrigation techniques that provide crops with the optimal amount of water while minimizing water loss. Landscaping and grounds keeping workers maintain outdoor spaces. They ensure that these areas are properly kept up and watered.

This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key agriculture and grounds maintenance occupations in water conservation.

Agriculture and Grounds Maintenance Occupations

Most agricultural and grounds maintenance workers spend the majority of their time outdoors, and some of the work is physically demanding. Agricultural workers are employed by farms; grounds maintenance workers may be employed by a landscaping company or by any organization that has a large area of landscaped land.

Job Duties

Farmers oversee the production of crops. They supervise all steps of crop production, including planting, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting. They determine how to raise crops, taking into account the amount of water needed and the most efficient way to deliver it. They work with agricultural engineers and other workers to design irrigation systems for their fields and oversee the regular watering of crops.

Agricultural equipment operators use a variety of farm machines to plow fields, sow seeds, and maintain and harvest crops. They also operate heavy machinery to dig irrigation ditches or trenches for pipes. Some operate irrigation equipment, such as overhead sprayers. Equipment operators may also make adjustments or minor repairs.

Farmworkers and laborers handle numerous tasks related to growing and harvesting crops. They may ensure that crops receive enough water and remove weeds or unwanted plants that would consume water.

Landscaping and grounds keeping workers ensure that outdoor areas are properly and efficiently watered. For example, they may water only in the early morning or in the evening, so that water is not lost through evaporation. They may also adjust sprinkler systems so that sprinkler sprays do not overlap or waste water by spraying sidewalks or other non-planted areas.

Education and Training

Most farmers need a high school diploma, and some have a bachelor’s degree from a college of agriculture. Some farmers gain experience growing crops, tending livestock, or working part-time on a farm, others learn through an internship or other farm-based training program.

Agricultural equipment operators require between 1 and 12 months of on-the-job training or a formal training program. Farmworkers and laborers need less than a high school diploma, but may need up to a year of on-the-job training. Landscaping and grounds keeping workers typically do not need any formal education and are trained on-the-job in less than 1 month.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected agriculture and grounds maintenance occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	$69,300
Agricultural equipment operators	$25,860
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	$18,670
Landscaping and grounds keeping workers	$23,570

For more detailed information on agriculture and grounds maintenance occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Thursday's final water conservation industry series installment: Water Operations Occupations.