Agribusiness

Agribusiness is an exciting and growing field consisting of firms that produce, process, distribute and sell food, fiber, and other bio-based products derived from agricultural products.

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Agribusiness discussion guide

Teachers, this discussion guide will help you talk with your students about careers in Agribusiness.

Firms come in all shapes and sizes, from small family-run farm operations to multi-million dollar companies managing the distribution of vital needs across the world. If you enjoy working with people, making deals, investigating or marketing products, there’s a good chance that this field is for you.

There are a variety of career options available in agribusiness. These options are often similar to any business-related careers but with an agricultural focus. Agribusiness careers can cross into a multitude of industries as well, including farming, real estate, retail marketing, food processing and investments, just to name a few. If you are creative, a risk taker and a good communicator and are willing to make your own opportunities, check out these career resources!

Careers in Agribusiness

  • Ag Finance Specialist
  • Agribusiness Manager
  • Agricultural policy analyst
  • Agriculture Journalist
  • Agronomist
  • Biochemist
  • Bioproducts Researcher
  • Commodity Merchandiser
  • Crop producer
  • Economist
  • Engineer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Equipment Sales
  • Extension Agent
  • Farm Appraiser
  • Farm Manager
  • Grain and Livestock Buyer
  • Loan Officer
  • Market Analyst

(From FFA New Horizons, 2016)

Related links

Companies

Nonprofits and government agencies

Additional links

Want to know what knowledge, skills, and academic courses are needed for this career pathway?

Explore this career pathway at OhioMeansJobs

Agribusiness resources at GNG

Video
Agribusiness and livestock
Video

Agribusiness and livestock

Jul 13, 2017
Matt Heimerl is an Ohio Pork Producer. He talks about his college studies in ag business and the livestock and crop production on his family’s farm. Thanks to the Ohio Pork Council for providing this video. Credit: Ohio Pork Council.
Video
Agricultural engineering
Video

Agricultural engineering

Aug 11, 2017
Agricultural engineers explain their work and how they use biology and engineering to make farms energy-efficient and our food supply safe and plentiful. They describe what drew them to agricultural engineering and discuss their education and career …
industry leader
Alex Johnson
industry leader

Alex Johnson

Area Team Leader at Beck's Superior Hybrids
agronomist seeds
Video
A student’s guide to careers in agronomy
Video

A student’s guide to careers in agronomy

Feb 5, 2018
Agronomy is key to helping produce more food for a growing world population. Learn about the educational path to this agriscience career and what an agronomist does. Do your interests fit with this field? Thanks to the Mississippi Soybean Promotion …
unit
Barges, trains and trucks: Logistics and moving soybeans
unit

Barges, trains and trucks: Logistics and moving soybeans

2 lessons, 10 files
Why is transportation for commodity crops so critical? Infrastructure is critical to the functions of the country, in particular the shipment of commodity crops such as soybeans. This unit introduces students to several types of infrastructure that are …
industry leader
Barry McGraw
industry leader

Barry McGraw

Director, Product Development and Commercialization at the Ohio Soybean Council
stem aquaculture engineering research and development soy-based products soybeans
Video
Bioproducts
Video

Bioproducts

Aug 10, 2017
Ohio is a leading producer of soybeans and polymers which means thousands of job opportunities! Learn about the production of bioproducts and the many related career paths.
e-learning
Bioproducts
e-learning

Bioproducts

What could a farmer in Ohio possibly have to do with improving homeland security, bringing jobs back to rural America, and curbing global warming? Producing and using bioproducts over traditional, oil-based counterparts is how farmers growing soybeans can play an important role.

industry leader
Dennis Hall
industry leader

Dennis Hall

Director of OBIC Bioproduct Innovation Center at The Ohio State University
ohio state university bioproducts soy-based products
Video
Entrepreneurship
Video

Entrepreneurship

Oct 12, 2017
The many uses of soy have led to not only hundreds of jobs, but also companies. Join Cathy Horton and learn more about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the importance of always reinventing.
unit
Henry Ford and George Washington Carver team up to make bio-based products
unit

Henry Ford and George Washington Carver team up to make bio-based products

1 lesson, 1 file
How do scientists and engineers work together to solve problems? Scientists and engineers work together to “industrialize” the use of agriculture products. Oil and protein from plants can be turned into many products. Design some new products using items from …
industry leader
Keith Masavage
industry leader

Keith Masavage

Founder and Chief Strategist at Biobent Polymers
bioproducts biotechnology business consulting
industry leader
Matthew Stroud
industry leader

Matthew Stroud

Product Agronomist at DuPont Pioneer
dupont pioneer agribusiness agronomist research and development soybeans test plot
industry leader
Melanie Flax Wilt
industry leader

Melanie Flax Wilt

Melanie Flax Wilt, Chief Experience Officer, Shift•ology Communication
energy ag communication
industry leader
Patrick Terrien
industry leader

Patrick Terrien

President and CEO of Global Education at Columbus Council on World Affairs
biology careers data world hunger biotechnology
industry leader
Richard “Max” Maksimoski
industry leader

Richard “Max” Maksimoski

President of Maximum C/Q, LLC
business consulting entrepreneurship research and development bioproducts
unit
Soybeans as a chemical feedstock
unit

Soybeans as a chemical feedstock

4 lessons, 6 files
Can agriculture provide greener, more sustainable products? Soybeans contain several components which innovators and entrepreneurs find valuable when creating greener products. What are the chemical building blocks in a soybean?
unit
Soy beautiful: applied chemistry
unit

Soy beautiful: applied chemistry

5 lessons, 5 files
What STEM equipment is used to make soy-based beauty products? Students act as lab technicians working for a cosmetic company and learn the names, functions and units of common lab and measuring equipment by generating soy-based beauty products. Students will …
Video
Think ag
Video

Think ag

Feb 5, 2018
Want to know more about what ag-related careers are available? Learn about the daily work of a seed distributor, a crop insurance specialist, and a construction equipment sales person. Thanks to the Michigan Farm Bureau for sharing this video. …