Growing Need for Agriculture Experts

摘要

Issues Related To The Safety And Security of our food supply top the news on a regular basis [e.g., (1, 2)]. Yet the news media con tinue to undermine the entry of students into the study of agriculture (3,4). Statistical data from the U.S. Department of Labor (5) and U.S. Department of Agricul ture (6) indicate an expected growth in most agriculture-related fields, including inspec tors, scientists, and veterinarians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that over the next five years, there will be a 5% increase in the need for graduates in these disciplines, but a 10% decline in the number of students choos ing these important programs as their career path (7).