Agronomist, field crops

Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers study, assist and advise on the management of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including cultivation, fertilisation, harvesting, soil erosion and composition, disease prevention, nutrition, crop rotation and marketing. They develop techniques to increase productivity, and study and develop plans and policies for the management of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

• collecting and analysing data and samples on productivity, feed, soil, water quality and other factors affecting agricultural, forestry or fishery production;
• advising on techniques to increase production of crops, animals and fish, and on alternative options;
• advising on animal and crop diseases, pest and weed control, soil improvement, animal husbandry and feeding programmes;
• studying environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, fish stocks and the growth and health of forests;
• studying the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects, diseases and management practices on agricultural, forestry and fishery yields;
• studying fish migration, growth, feeding and spawning and developing methods of collecting, fertilising, incubating and hatching fish eggs;
• investigating the characteristics, use capability and productivity of soils and applying the findings to develop improved agricultural, forestry and fishery practices;
• developing procedures or techniques to solve agricultural problems and improve production efficiency;
• managing fishery and forestry resources to maximise long-term benefits for commercial or recreational use and environmental protection;
• studying the propagation and cultivation of forest trees, methods of improving growth and the effects of reducing forest yields;
• investigating, planning and implementing procedures to manage and deal with the effects of fire, floods, drought, soil erosion, pests and diseases;
• preparing scientific reports and conducting advisory meetings and lectures for interest groups in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Agronomist
• Agronomist, irrigated agriculture and erosion control
• Animal science engineer (zootechnician)
• Forestry engineer