How to become an agricultural representative, consultant or specialist
Official title: Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists
Also called: Crop specialist, Farming consultant, Agricultural advisor, Livestock specialist, Agricultural consultant, Agricultural specialist, Farm management consultant, Agricultural representative, District agricultural specialist, Agricultural extension supervisor, Agricultural livestock specialist, Irrigation consultant - agriculture
Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists provide assistance and advice to farmers on all aspects of farm management, cultivation, fertilization, harvesting, soil erosion and composition, disease prevention, nutrition, crop rotation and marketing. They are employed by businesses, institutions and governments that assist the farming community, or they may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Provide counselling and advisory services to farmers on crop cultivation and fertilization, harvesting, animal and poultry care, disease prevention, farm management, farm financing, marketing and other agricultural subjects
- Prepare and conduct advisory information sessions and lectures for farmers and other groups
- Conduct research, analyze agricultural data and prepare research reports
- Liaise with researchers, educators and government or business managers on matters pertaining to farming and agriculture
- Maintain records of services provided and the effects of advice given
- May operate unmanned aerial vehicle/drone to map drainage, plant seeds, analyze crop health and identify areas of stress and evenly spray fertilizers or pesticides
- Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists may specialize in specific aspects of agriculture such as animal science, field crops, horticulture, soil science, irrigation or drainage, farm management, marketing, agricultural economics, land use, and environmental management, appraisal or extension and education
How to become one
A bachelor's or master's degree in agriculture or in a related science is required. Membership or eligibility for membership in a provincial institute of agrology is usually required. In Quebec, membership in the Ordre professionnel des agronomes is mandatory.
Ways in
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 17 universities in Canada
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $78,000 a year The middle half earn $57,213 to $95,004.
- About 5,600 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 6,400 are projected by 2033. (+14.3%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an agricultural representative, consultant or specialist?
A bachelor's or master's degree in agriculture or in a related science is required. Membership or eligibility for membership in a provincial institute of agrology is usually required. In Quebec, membership in the Ordre professionnel des agronomes is mandatory.
How much does an agricultural representative, consultant or specialist earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $78,000 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $57,213 to $95,004.
Is an agricultural representative, consultant or specialist a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2033, from about 5,600 to about 6,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an agricultural representative, consultant or specialist?
Usually. 65% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03