Engineering

Agricultural Engineering is the area of
engineering concerned with the design,
construction and improvement of farming
equipment and machinery.
Agricultural engineers integrate technology
with farming. For example, they design new
and improved farming equipment that may
work more efficiently, or perform new tasks.
They design and build agricultural
infrastructure such as dams, water
reservoirs, warehouses, and other structures.
They may also help engineer solutions for
pollution control at large farms. Some
agricultural engineers are developing new
forms of biofuels from non-food resources
like algae and agricultural waste. Such fuels
could economically and sustainably replace
gasoline without jeopardizing the food
supply.
What Do Agricultural
Engineers Do?
While agricultural engineers may develop
specialties, most are involved in certain core
activities. For example, most professionals
design and test agricultural machinery,
equipment, and parts. They may also design
food storage structures and food processing
plants. Some may design housing and
environments for livestock.
Those interested in sustainability may
provide advice on water quality and water
pollution control issues. They may also plan
and oversee land reclamation projects on
farms. Others may be involved in agricultural
waste-to-energy projects and carbon
sequestration (absorbing carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere into the soil, crops and
trees).
Where Does an
Agricultural Engineer
Work?
As of May 2012, most agricultural engineers
(17%) were employed in architectural,
engineering and related services. 16% were
employed by the federal government.
Another 14% worked in food manufacturing.
13% worked in agriculture, construction, and
mining machinery manufacturing. Another 6%
were employed as educators.
Agricultural engineers work both indoors and
outdoors. They spend time in offices
creating plans and managing projects, and in
agricultural settings inspecting sites,
monitoring equipment, and overseeing
reclamation and water management projects.
These positions may involve a significant
amount of travel. These engineers may also
work in laboratories and classrooms. They
may collaborate with others to plan and
solve problems. For example, they may work
with horticulturalists, agronomists, animal
scientists, and geneticists.