High School

You should take courses in mathematics and science; depending on your area of work, you'll need an understanding of biology and chemistry. You should complete as much vocational agriculture work as possible, including agricultural mechanics. In addition, English is very important, because much of the work requires good communication skills.

Postsecondary Training

A career as a farm crop production technician requires training in a rigorous two-year technical or agricultural college program in order to learn the principles of crop production. In such a training program, you can expect to take a broad range of courses relating to agriculture in general and farm crop production in particular, as well as some general education courses. Typical first-year courses include the following: agricultural machinery, animal husbandry, soil science, entomology, English, physical education, science, and mathematics. Typical second-year courses include agricultural economics, soil fertility, plant pathology, forage and seed crops, and social science. Students also are often required to complete a co-op or internship with an agricultural employer.

If you wish to specialize in vegetable or fruit production, you may be able to modify your program to concentrate in these areas. You may study topics such as vegetable and fruit production in the first year and vegetable and fruit marketing in the second.

Other Education or Training

Conferences, webinars, classes, workshops, and other continuing education opportunities are provided by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and other national, state, and local organizations. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

The majority of technicians in the field are not required to have a license or certification. However, technicians involved in grading or inspecting for local, state, or federal government units must pass examinations to be qualified. Some other government jobs, such as that of research assistant, may also require a competitive examination. The American Society of Agronomy offers a variety of certification credentials, including the certified crop adviser, resistance management specialty, sustainability specialty, and certified professional agronomist designations. 

Students should obtain as much experience in the field as possible by participating in agricultural-related summer internships, co-op, or part-time job.

You'll need manual skills and mechanical ability to operate various kinds of equipment and machinery. You must also be able to apply scientific principles to the processing procedures, materials, and measuring and control devices found at the modern laboratory or farm. You must be able to communicate what needs to be done and interpret the orders you are given. Other important traits include the ability to follow instructions; the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team, as needed; and a willingness tro continue to learn throughout your career.