Agricultural Science

The agricultural sciences career cluster covers the broad field of occupations related to the production and use of plants and animals for food, fiber, aesthetic, and environmental purposes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through 2025, 59,400 jobs are expected to open in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or the environment for graduates with bachelor’s or higher degrees in those areas. Almost half of those jobs will be in management and business at 42%; 31% in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in agriculture; 13% in sustainable food and biomaterials production; and 14% in education, communication, and government services. According to the USDA, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed $1.1 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) reports that agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry at $7.4 billion and employing approximately 17.4% of the state’s workforce. Diversified agriculture will target careers at the professional and technical levels in agriculture. Students enrolled in these courses should be better prepared to pursue degrees at the community college and four-year college levels. (Diversified Agriculture Curriculum) Agricultural Science is a huge part of the Greene County Vocational Center.  The program consists of Principles of Agriculture, Animal Core, Vet. Science, and DAC.