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UT Institute of Agriculture The University of Tennessee Institute of AgricultureThe University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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CASNR » Careers » Degrees at Work » Agricultural Economics and Business


Agricultural Economics and Business . . .

 

Photos of students in agricultural economics and business

What is Agricultural Economics and Business?

Agricultural Economics and Business is a broad-based curriculum designed to develop students' managerial and business skills for employment in the agribusiness industry, related organizations or public agencies. From the production of agricultural commodities to the use of food and fiber by consumers, agriculture encompasses every aspect of the business world. The agribusiness sector employs more than 20 percent of the labor force in the United States. Agribusiness and related industries comprise almost 20 percent of the gross national product of the U.S. In this program, students develop strong computer skills and gain practical real-world experience through case study analyses, the National AgriMarketing Association (NAMA) marketing team, internships and extracurricular activities.

What co-ops and internships are available for an Agricultural Economics and Business major?

Internships with agribusiness companies, industry organizations or government agencies can be an exceptionally valuable component of a student's academic success. Approximately one-third of Agricultural Economics and Business graduates complete an internship, typically during the summer between their junior and senior years.

Academic credit can be awarded for a three-month internship. Students must submit periodic progress reports, complete a special project and receive satisfactory ratings from their supervisor, in addition to presenting both an oral and written report summarizing their internship experience. Recent internship and co-op opportunities available to students include:

American Cyanamid   Murphy Farms
Archer Daniels Midland   Office Depot
Cargill-Nutrena Feeds   Syngenta
Ducks Unlimited   TN Agricultural Statistics Service
Elanco Animal Health   TN Dept. of Agriculture—Marketing Div.
Farm Credit Services   TN Farmers Cooperative
Greene County Bank   TN Farm Bureau—Legislative Div.
Griffen Corporation   TN Farmers Insurance
John Deere   Tyson Foods
Monsanto   UT Center for Profitable Agriculture

What other opportunities are available?

  • Small class sizes - Class size ranges from 50 in the sophomore year to less than 20 in the senior year.
  • Personalized advising by faculty - Students are advised by a dedicated team of faculty members. Students are assigned an advisor during orientation, who then works with them through graduation. This promotes a close student-advisor relationship and facilitates effective advising for both course selection and career planning.
  • Scholarship Availability - Students majoring in Agricultural Economics and Business are eligible for a large number of scholarships, based on need and/or merit. Approximately 25-30 percent of all students receive scholarships. Awards average $2,100 per year.
  • NAMA Marketing Team - Majors also have the opportunity to participate in UT's Chapter of the National AgriMarketing Association (NAMA). The UT team competes with teams from around the county each April at the NAMA annual conference. Students first identify a potential new product and then develop a marketing plan that is summarized in a 20-minute group presentation, thus gaining valuable experience in teamwork.

Where can I get a job with this background?

  • Business management — While a few graduates pursue careers in farm management, most take positions as managers with farm input supply businesses or with commodity processors. In recent years, the growing landscape development and maintenance industry has hired graduates for management positions.
  • Marketing and customer relations — Positions are typically with large manufacturers of farm input supplies such as chemicals, machinery or large food processors. Related areas our graduates pursue include communications and public relations.
  • Finance, insurance and real estate — Opportunities are available in commercial lending institutions, commonly as loan specialists, or in government agencies that serve agriculture and rural communities.
  • Opportunities outside the food and agricultural industry — Agricultural Economics and Business graduates commonly obtain management, marketing and other positions with companies outside the food and agricultural industry.
  • Graduate or law school — An increasing percentage of our graduates continue their education in graduate or professional programs. Further study in agricultural economics, agribusiness management or law is most common

The department also offers a concentration in Agricultural Equipment Systems Management that prepares students for careers in the agricultural machinery industry as dealership managers, as well as with agribusiness firms in operations management. Additional career paths for Agricultural Equipment Systems Management majors include:

  • Managerial roles in production, farm input supply businesses or with commodity processors.
  • Management positions with companies in the growing landscape development and maintenance industry.
  • Marketing or customer-relations positions, typically with large manufacturers of farm input supplies such as chemicals and machinery or with large food processors.
  • Finance, insurance and real estate positions.
  • Management, marketing and other positions outside the food and agricultural industry.
  • Continuing their education in graduate or professional programs.

 

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Contact Us. . .

Department of Agricultural Economics
302 Morgan Hall
2621 Morgan Circle
Knoxville, TN 37996-4518
Phone: (865) 974-7231
Email: dmclemor@utk.edu
Web: http://economics.ag.utk.edu

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
2621 Morgan Circle
125 Morgan Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-7303
Fax: (865) 974-9329
Email: casnr@utk.edu