High Demand For Ag Degrees

USA Today reports that Iowa State University, where the agriculture college this fall expects to surpass an enrollment record set 35 years ago, is straining to meet industry demand for its graduates, according to Wendy Wintersteen, the agriculture college dean.

Anthony Lackore, who graduated from Iowa State in 2010 and works as a production agronomist raising soybean seeds for DuPont Pioneer said, “It was just amazing to hear all the areas of the ag industry that the individuals were going into, especially hearing, on the flip side, about the other industries that were struggling at the time.”

The university reports a 95% job-placement rate for graduates from the colleges of engineering and agriculture. Wages can start between $50,000 and $60,000, said Iowa State University President Steven Leath.

Demand for skilled workers in the industry shows no signs of letting up, in part because some predict agriculture productivity will have to increase 70% by 2050 to feed the world’s growing population.