A county extension agent works as a liaison between a government or NGO and community members involved with agricultural pursuits. As a county extension agent, you plan and implement community engagement strategies involving educational programs.
Why hire a county extension agent?
County extension agents have a special advantage in helping with your lawn and garden growth: Agents live in the regions they serve. When a problem emerges in your lawn or garden, your local extension expert can see it firsthand. That local perspective allows them to zero-in on the area-specific issues involved.
What is a county extension office?
County extension offices and agents are familiar to residents of rural areas, but extension services don't stop where cities start. The reach of today's extension programs far exceeds their agricultural roots.
What is the job description of an agricultural extension agent?
Agricultural Extension Agent Career Profile 1 Duties of an Extension Agent. Agricultural extension agents travel throughout their region or district to provide the latest industry information to farmers, ranchers, community groups, and youth groups. 2 Career Options. ... 3 Education and Training. ... 4 Salary. ... 5 Career Outlook. ...
What education do you need to become an extension agent?
Education & Training. An entry-level position in the field of agricultural extension requires a Bachelor’s degree at minimum. Master’s degrees are preferred for many positions and greatly enhance an applicant’s resume. The degree that an extension agent holds may be in one of many areas including education, agriculture, animal science,...
What is the role of an extension agent?
Extension Agents are employed by land-grant universities and serve the citizens of that particular state by serving as an expert or teacher on a topic relating to economics, community development, agriculture, family, animal production, diet and nutrition.
How do I become a county extension agent in Texas?
CEAs will be required to have a Baccalaureate degree (4 year) in a related discipline to the position in which they serve. There will be an expectation that all CEAs will continue to achieve a basic level of professional development each year, as directed by the RPL and DEA.
How much do county extension agents make in Texas?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $346,803 and as low as $17,362, the majority of salaries within the County Extension Agent jobs category currently range between $28,647 (25th percentile) to $40,800 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $108,511 annually in Texas.
What is a local extension agent?
Local Expertise – Your local extension office agent knows your area and has knowledge about the climate and successful plants, as well as common pests and diseases and ways to manage them. You can get frost dates for your area, as well as plant recommendations and wildlife deterrent information.
What does a county extension agent do in Texas?
The county Extension agent's primary role is to inform and teach. Agents provide information for local residents in workshops and seminars, at community events, through the media, and with a variety of information technology tools. An equally important part of the job is working with people.
How much do AgriLife extension agents make?
How much does an Extension Agent make at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Texas? Average Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Extension Agent yearly pay in Texas is approximately $40,239, which is 9% below the national average.
What are the extension services?
Extension service means those entities in the country responsible for the transfer of information, technology and advice regarding the improvement of agricultural practices, including production, handling, storage and marketing of agricultural commodities.
Who are agricultural extension agents?
In the US, an extension agent is a university employee who develops and delivers educational programs to assist people in economic and community development, leadership, family issues, agriculture and environment. Another program area provided by extension agents is 4-H and youth activities.
What is the extension program?
An extension programme is a written statement which contains the following four elements: Objectives which the agent expects to be achieved in the area within a specified period of time. This will often be a one-year period, to enable the agent to review the programme at the start of each farming year.
How much does a county extension agent make?
County Extension Agents in America make an average salary of $57,691 per year or $28 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $109,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $30,000 per year.
What is county extension?
County extension agents work for institutions supported by the federal government. They educate the public about various topics , such as agriculture, community development, natural resources, youth development, consumer sciences, and many more.#N#Working in this position, you will facilitate discussions and educational programs to meet the needs of the local population. A big part of your job will be building relationships with people, creating local partnerships, and initiating changes on a community level. You will also be responsible for evaluating the programs you have organized and create reports on the results.#N#Having a bachelor's degree in social sciences, human studies, or a related area is often required. Great communication skills, a dedication to community values, and excellent organizational skills will make you successful in this role. This position can bring great personal satisfaction if you love working with people, and it will earn you around $52,422 on average per year.
What are the best states to work as a county extension agent?
The best states for people in this position are Alaska, New York, Rhode Island, and North Dakota. County extension agents make the most in Alaska with an average salary of $86,181. Whereas in New York and Rhode Island , they would average $76,809 and $74,477, respectively. While county extension agents would only make an average of $74,235 in North Dakota , you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
What is location quotient?
Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
What can extension centers do for you?
You can find out all kinds of answers from an extension center when it comes to gardening, landscaping and lawns. They can help you with backyard composting, growing all types of fruits and vegetables, best fertilizers for certain soils, pruning, frost warnings, landscape water conversation or which annual flowers are best in the shade.
When did cooperative extension start?
The cooperative extension service started in 1914, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The USDA teamed up with Land-Grant University (LGU) Systems coast to coast (such as ISU) to create the cooperative extension system.
What is an extension agent?
Extension Agent. Extension Agents are employed by land-grant universities and serve the citizens of that particular state by serving as an expert or teacher on a topic relating to economics, community development, agriculture, family, animal production, diet and nutrition. What responsibilities will I have?
What is an extension professional?
Provide learning experiences that will empower people to improve their lives around critical issues. Some positions in the academic setting will require you to conduct research. Some extension professionals also may teach more formal courses to students enrolled at the land-grant university.
Find your local county extension office with this list of the agricultural extension offices across the US
Are you looking for help with a question about your garden, lawn, finding a farm or anything agricultural? The solution is your local county extension agent from the Cooperative Extension office; and they're free! To find your local county extension agent's office, just click on your state on the map below! The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide, non-credit educational network.
Land Grant University Map
The 100 colleges and universities that comprise the nation's Land-Grant University System are institutions that have been designated by their state legislature or Congress to receive federal support.
A History of Continuing Service
For more than 100 years, extension agents have worked to enrich American lives through sharing practical, research-based knowledge.
Ways Local Extension Agents Can Help
County extension offices and agents are familiar to residents of rural areas, but extension services don't stop where cities start. The reach of today's extension programs far exceeds their agricultural roots.
Connecting With Your Extension Experts
Extension research and outreach programs vary by state, but extension offices and agents have a common denominator: They strive to be easy to find! Fulfilling their mission depends on providing the best and latest research-based insights to the public, so their office locations are designed to make that happen.
What is an agricultural extension agent?
Agricultural extension agents travel throughout their region or district to provide the latest industry information to farmers, ranchers, community groups, and youth groups. They may present details on scientific advances, farm management, marketing, production, and other topics that are relevant to agricultural businesses operating in their area.
How much do extension agents make?
Salary. According to Payscale, the average salary for extension agents is $45,551 as of late 2019. Of course, starting salaries for new agents are markedly lower. In Kentucky, for example, new extension agents with a bachelor’s degree and no work experience start out at a base salary rate of $35,500.
What degree do extension agents need?
The degree that an extension agent holds may be in one of many areas including education, agriculture, animal science, or other related fields. Coursework that provides training in communications, technology, public relations, agricultural marketing, mathematics, and life sciences prepares the aspiring extension agent well for this career path.
What are the places that an agricultural agent can visit?
Agents may visit farms, ranches, hatcheries, dairies, stables, orchards, fields, bee farms, aquaculture facilities, and a variety of other agricultural business locations during the course of their day. Agents may also be required to attend ...
Can an agricultural extension agent work on weekends?
Agricultural extension agents may be required to work evenings and weekends, though many are able to work normal day shift hours. Work for this position may take place both indoors and outdoors, so agents must be prepared to deal with changing weather conditions and temperature extremes.
