Fields of Opportunities

Fields of Opportunities

A Variety of Jobs Work Together to Make Agriculture Successful

By Sara Preston

If I said ‘agriculture’ or ‘farming,’ what would come to mind? I’m guessing it’s fields of corn and soybeans, a farm with livestock or an individual farmer. Although those thoughts and pictures that may come to mind are the heart of agriculture, many more people are involved in the growing and raising of food, fiber, feed and fuel.

On our farm, we work with many different professionals, such as the following, to make our operation successful.

Seed Dealers. These are the people who sell us our corn and soybeans. Some farmers work with just one dealer and others, like us, work with multiple seed dealers.

Chemical Sales Representatives. To keep our crops weed- and pest-free, we work with experts who know what we should be putting on our crops and when. We want to keep this to a minimum, so product knowledge and timing are essential.

Equipment Dealers. Farms require combines, tractors, sprayers, skid loaders, manure spreaders, augers and other specialized equipment. We rely on these experts to help us purchase the right equipment that best suits our farm.

Precision Specialists. Technology is ever-changing in agriculture and constantly advancing. These specialists help with many important functions, such as creating maps to assist with precise planting or fertilizer placement.

Mechanics. Equipment maintenance and repairs are essentials to keep work on schedule, so mechanics are always in high demand.

Insurance Specialists. We must insure our crops, livestock, buildings, equipment and many other items. As part of our risk management strategy, we work with specialists to effectively cover the farm’s assets.

Co-op and Ethanol Plant Workers. Farmers often sell grain at these locations, and we also get “wet cake,” a cattle feed source, from our local ethanol plant.

Veterinarians. Livestock farmers rely on the expertise of a local veterinarian to keep animals healthy.

Nutritionists. Just like humans, our cows need balanced nutrition. We work with nutritionists to determine the proper diets for our cows, calves and feedlot cattle.

Cattle Buyers. We raise our own cattle; however, we often purchase additional cattle to fill barns. Instead of going from sale to sale looking for cattle, we work with buyers who know the ins and outs of the different sale locations to procure the type of cattle we are seeking for our farm.

Truckers. After purchasing cattle, we work with a trucking company to bring the cattle to our farm and pick cattle up when they are ready for market.

Loan Officers. Having a strong working relationship with your bank and loan officer is necessary for nearly all farmers. When they understand agriculture and your farm, life is so much easier.

Accountants. With all the moving pieces of the farm, it is essential to make sure everything is covered in our financial records and processes.

All the people who participate in agriculture and work every day to provide services or products, eventually lead back to the farmer. In addition, many other professionals provide behindthe-scenes support, including marketing, human resources and other essential roles.

Another agriculture sector, which is near and dear to my heart, includes those that advocate for the industry and provide education. These roles include high school ag teachers, FFA Advisors, 4-H youth coordinators, extension program directors, commodity representatives, speakers, authors, bloggers or those like me, Ag in the Classroom educators. These individuals teach others about agriculture and share agriculture’s opportunities and possibilities with passion.

Everyone who plays a role within agriculture makes the industry stronger. When visitors enter Iowa, the “Fields of Opportunities” message is genuine. In Iowa, 1 in 5 jobs are related to agriculture. There are more than 58,000 jobs available in agriculture every year, an industry that continues to thrive as we feed a growing population.

Iowa agriculture is growing. Iowa agriculture is strong. Iowa agriculture has opportunities like no other industry. The skill sets, expertise and passion within Iowa agriculture are second to none.

Sara Preston is a sixth-generation farmer who raises cattle and grows corn and soybeans. She is an active member of CommonGround Iowa and is an educator with North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom. She grew up in the agriculture industry with a foundation in the 4-H and FFA Youth Leadership programs. Sara lives near Swea City with her husband Jared and children Nora, Maggie and Croix.