Do you have a green thumb?
Do you enjoy working with plants and animals?
Are you interested in geology and mining?
Are you passionate about protecting the environment?
Do you have physical dexterity?
Do you enjoy an outdoor work environment?

If you answered yes to two or more of the questions above, you might enjoy a career in agriculture and natural resources. One of the following jobs might be a great fit for you:

• Mining engineer
• Aquaculturist
• Animal breeder
• Logger
• Fish and game warden
• Groundskeeper
• Greenhouse manager
• Farm manager
• Animal trainer

Cluster Definition

Jobs in the agriculture and natural resources career cluster involve planning, managing, and performing agricultural production, horticulture and landscaping services, and related professional and technical services; planning, managing, and performing mining and extraction operations; managing and conserving natural resources; and performing related environmental services.

Career Pathways in Agriculture and Natural Resources

A career pathway is an area of concentration within a career cluster. Each pathway contains a group of careers requiring similar academic and technical skills as well as similar industry certifications or postsecondary education. The agriculture and natural resources career cluster has five pathways: agriculture management, production, and operations; horticulture, landscaping, and groundskeeping; agriculture sciences, processes and support services; mining and operations; and conservation and natural resources.

Agriculture Management, Production, and Operations
This pathway covers all occupations necessary for running a farm, ranch, or aquaculture farm. Occupations include farmer, farm manager, aquaculturist, animal handler, meatcutter, and agricultural product inspector.

Horticulture, Landscaping, and Groundskeeping
Jobs in this pathway involve designing and tending plants and landscapes in the human environment. Jobs include landscape architect, lawn maintenance worker, groundskeeper, nursery worker, irrigation worker, and pest control service worker.

Agriculture Sciences, Processes, and Support Services
The jobs in this pathway help make farming possible by taking care of food safety, animal breeding and health, and farming efficiency. Jobs include agriculture researcher, viniculturist, food science and processing worker, and veterinarian.

Mining and Operations
This pathway encompasses the jobs involved in building and operating mines and gas and oil wells. Jobs include mining engineer, well driller, mining equipment operator, geologist, mining inspector, petroleum technician, and derrick operator.

Conservation and Natural Resources
This pathway focuses on using and conserving our natural resources. Jobs include commercial fishery worker, conservation manager, fish and game warden, logger, and soil and land preservation worker.

Click here for a visual representation of the agriculture and natural resources career cluster.

Print and Internet Resources

These Print and Internet Resources offer references for career cluster exploration, including trade, professional, and business associations, government departments and agencies, labor unions, and cluster-specific career Web sites.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Print and Internet Resources

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