. . . Embraces life processes for obtaining food
Agricultural chemistry focuses on chemical compositions and changes involved in the production, protection, and use of crops and livestock. It is directed toward control of processes by which humans obtain food and fiber for themselves and feed for their animals to increase yields, improve quality, and reduce costs. Agricultural chemists study the causes and effects of biochemical reactions related to plant and animal growth, seek ways to control these reactions, and develop chemical products that provide help in controlling these reactions.
Chemical products developed to assist in the production of food, feed, and fiber include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, pesticides, plant growth regulators, fertilizers, and animal feed supplements.

. . . Regulates safe use of chemicals
Every year, millions of pounds of agricultural chemicals are used in herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides that are applied to crops in the United States. Part of Julie Eble's job is to make sure these products are safe for humans and for the environment. Eble is a chemist and environmental planning studies coordinator for the agriculture products division at DuPont. "These chemicals are applied in huge quantities to commercial crops. In a test field, we study air, plants, soil, and water for the presence of chemicals." A significant presence of these chemicals or their metabolites-compounds the chemicals break down into-may pose a threat of toxicity.
Ed Johnson, a support scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), does similar work, although he works for the U.S. government rather than industry. "I focus on the fate of pesticides, finding out where they go that we do not expect," he says. He tests for these chemicals in the atmosphere, surface water, and groundwater. In some cases, the work that Eble and Johnson do results in changes in the way that some chemicals are used.

. . . Offers a variety of opportunites
Eble and Johnson's work are just one example of the work of agricultural chemists . Some chemists develop molecules used in herbicides or pesticides, while some develop molecules that can be used on crop fields in lower concentrations than are traditional products. Many are focused on other business-related aspects of the field.
Some chemists are employed in the field of agricultural biotechnology. Agricultural biotechnology is currently focused on three major areas: genetic engineering of crops to be more herbicide tolerant or less apt to be killed along with the weeds during herbicide treatment; genetic engineering of produce, such as tomatoes or potatoes, to improve taste and color and promote longer shelf life; and the improvement of plants' natural tolerance to certain pests. An example of the latter is Calgene's work on injecting the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein into its proprietary cotton varieties. This causes the plants to produce a Bt toxin that kills Heliothis, a principal cotton insect pest. Herbicides engineered for crop tolerance are thought to be safe and more environmentally friendly.

. . . Is business-oriented
Keith Anderson, a Science Fellow in the process development section of Monsanto Agriculture Company, says, "Here, we look at how to make the molecule at a certain price rather than at biological activity." Cost is probably the biggest issue in his work. "In the past 10 years, there has been a major change in industrial research," he says. "We no longer have the luxury of making products that do not have a market. As researchers, we now constantly have to ask the question, 'What is our work doing for the company?'" Both Eble and Johnson say that while the work is very team-based, there's still autonomy in research as long as the research ultimately has an application that will benefit agriculture.
. . . Is interdisciplinary
"I work a lot with scientists in other fields," Eble says, "including agronomists, biologists, toxicologists, and biochemists. We tell them the level of a product in the field and they tell us its impact on animals and plants." Anderson says, "There is a wide spectrum of research projects in this field. Thus, it is important to be able to work, or at least to be conversant, in other fields. It is not good to have tunnel vision; you need to make yourself as well-rounded as possible."
Agricultural chemistry is not a distinct discipline. It ties together genetics, physiology, microbiology, entomology, and other sciences that cross into agriculture as chemical techniques, for example, help evolve more productive plant and animal strains; determine the kinds and amounts of nutrients needed for optimum growth of plants and animals; and determine a soil's ability to provide essential nutrients for the support of crops or livestock. Every scientific discipline that contributes to agricultural progress depends in some way on chemistry.
Copyright 1994, 1997 American Chemical Society

Work Description
Research projects for agricultural chemists cover many fields of inquiry including the development of a molecule or chemical compound that kills a pest or a weed, the development of that molecule for full-scale manufacturing, modifications on the molecule so that it works for longer periods of time or at lower dosages, and testing for the impact and fate of the chemical on the environment.

Working Conditions
Agricultural chemists generally work in a lab or a simulated environment such as a test field or test waterway. In testing for the presence and fate of agricultural chemicals, analytical chemistry methods are used. In development work, agricultural chemists rely heavily on their training in process chemistry and basic organic chemistry.

Places of Employment
Agricultural chemists are employed in universities; government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and in industry. Some of the large chemical companies count their agricultural divisions as their most lucrative businesses. The increase in environmental regulations has created opportunities in environmental chemistry work within the agricultural chemicals industry. However, the primary focus for most of these companies is still developing and selling agricultural chemicals at the most competitive price.

Personal Characteristics
Because agricultural chemicals potentially come in contact with everything from crops to weeds to plankton, soil, air, animals, and humans, an agricultural chemist must be able to think in an interdisciplinary manner. Those students with an interest in the environment will likely be attracted to the high degree of involvement with environmental issues in this field. In addition, good communications skills are a must as team efforts are becoming the characteristic work model in most labs.

Education and Training
A high number of Ph.D. chemists work in the agricultural chemicals field, although an advanced degree is not a prerequisite for promotion in a company. A Ph.D., however, generally gets an individual more complex and challenging research assignments earlier in their career. Agricultural chemists recommend that students take courses in biology, biochemistry, human toxicology, water and soil chemistry, and geology. Knowledge of computers and a course in research ethics are also strongly suggested. Scientists already in the field point out that there are now many more degree programs in environmental sciences now than existed in the past. These, they say, are another route into this field.

Job Outlook
The agricultural chemicals business is experiencing a time of transition, which makes the job outlook less clear than it has been in the past. Fourteen years ago a boom in agricultural chemicals opened up the job market, but those within industry say departments are now getting smaller, and jobs are more competitive. Agricultural companies are consolidating, and agricultural chemists expect the business will soon be dominated by a few firms. Once this reorganization has happened, clearer hiring patterns will begin to emerge. Most of the growth in agricultural chemistry is in biotechnology and bioengineering.

Salary Range
The starting salary for a Ph.D. chemist is in the low $50,000-per-year range. B.S. and M.A. degree holders going into industry can expect to start anywhere from the mid $20,000 to mid $30,000 per year range, depending on the size of the company for which they work. Jobs in government laboratories traditionally pay less. Chemists in government starting at a GS-9 level can expect to earn $28,000 annually. At a GSI-11 level, salaries are closer to $36,000-per-year.

For More Information
For information on industries and companies that produce agricultural chemicals:
National Crop Protection Association
1156 15th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 296-1585
For information on opportunities for agricultural chemists in biotechnology:
Biotechnology Industry Organization
1625 K Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006
(202) 857-0244

What You Can Do Now
Chemists in the agriculture business say that any advantage a student can gain through internships or summer jobs at a company will be extremely helpful because the job market is so competitive. Personal contacts are important in this field and will give you an opportunity to discover if this field is right for you.