Agricultural Engineers


Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources > Agricultural Engineers > Overview
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Agricultural Engineers

Agricultural Engineers - Overview

Agricultural engineers design or improve farm equipment and products.

Agricultural engineers help farmers find the best ways to produce crops. They research seeds, fertilizers, and other farm chemicals. Some agricultural engineers design and test machinery that is used to turn soil and harvest crops. They may design machines that process and store food. Others find methods to control plant and animal diseases.

Agricultural engineers design and supervise the construction of farm buildings. They may offer advice on heating, ventilation, plumbing, and electrical systems. They discuss ideas, plans, and changes with contractors, consultants, and farmers.

A number of agricultural engineers work on power systems. They may plan irrigation, flood control, and rural electrical systems. They may also advise farmers on the use of different power sources, such as solar and wind energy.

As the world's population grows, agricultural engineers work to help farmers produce more food. They find ways to conserve resources such as water and soil. They often manage or control systems that gather information on the environment. Some agricultural engineers work to control pollution. These engineers design and build equipment to treat waste or test water quality. They may also design land reclamation projects.

Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.