70 likes | 175 Views
Agricultural Careers Turf Scientist. By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Trisha Rae Stephens Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005. START. Job Duties & Responsibilities. Conduct experiments and record findings
E N D
Agricultural Careers Turf Scientist By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Trisha Rae Stephens Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005 START
Job Duties & Responsibilities • Conduct experiments and record findings • Study plant and soil conditions and problems • Develop new technology to reduce pests • Perform experiments to determine how various conditions affects plant growth • Manage production and/or research for companies • Identify and classify species of grass and turf pests • Teach turfgrass management in college and university settings
Qualities and Skills • Good physical condition is needed • Manual labor is sometimes required to establish and maintain research plots • Must be patient and persistent in carrying out research • May require traveling • Good communication skills
Salary In the U.S. the median wage for agricultural turf scientists is about $50,124. Half of all agricultural turf scientists earn between $37,440 and $67,329 per year. These figures change relative to location and position.
Work Environment • Research and teaching is done both indoors and outdoors • May be required to travel • Works at least 40 hours per week
Becoming a Turf Scientist • In high school, take college-prep courses in horticulture, biology, botany, and chemistry in addition to core academic classes • Other extremely helpful courses include public speaking, business, accounting, Spanish, and computer science. • An internship will be beneficial for an entry level position and experience in the field during high school or while attending college.
Career Resources American Phytopathological Society (APS) Internet: http://www.apsnet.org/visitors/about.asp American Nursery and Landscape Association Internet: http://www.anla.org/ Professional Lawn Care of America Association Internet: http://www.plcaa.org/home/ Sports Turf Managers Association Internet: http://www.sportsturfmanager.com/ United States Golf Association – Greens Section Internet: http://www.usga.org/turf/index.html