View occupational profile

Search the OaSIS

Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists

OaSIS code 21112.00

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.

Overview

Also known as

  • Agricultural consultant
  • Agricultural extension supervisor
  • Agricultural livestock specialist
  • Agricultural representative
  • Agricultural soil and crop specialist
  • Agriculturist
  • Agrologist
  • Agronomist
  • Consulting agrologist
  • Crop specialist
  • Farm management consultant
  • Field service adviser - agriculture
  • Field service agent - agriculture
  • Growers' advisor
  • Professional agrologist (P.Ag.)

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • 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.

Additional information

  • Progression to management positions is possible with experience.
  • 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.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists (22114)
  • Agricultural engineer (in 21399.01 Agricultural and bio-resource engineers)
  • Agrology technician (in 22110.02 Biological technicians)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

21 – Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

211 – Professional occupations in natural sciences

Minor group

2111 – Life science professionals

Unit group

21112 – Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists

Occupational profile

21112.00 – Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
5 - Highest Level
Developing Objectives and Strategies
5 - Highest Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
5 - Highest Level
Planning and Organizing
5 - Highest Level
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
5 - Highest Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
4 - High amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Businesses, institutions and governments that assist the farming community
  • Self-employed

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Deductive Reasoning
4 - High Level
Fluency of Ideas
4 - High Level
Inductive Reasoning
4 - High Level
Numerical Ability
4 - High Level
Problem Identification
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Coordinating
4 - High Level
Critical Thinking
4 - High Level
Decision Making
4 - High Level
Evaluation
4 - High Level
Instructing
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Active Learning
4 - Highly important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important