Agricultural Chemicals: Open Field
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EDUCATION Agricultural Chemicals: Open Field This young, uncrowded industry has room for many specialists in research and administrative jobs Ο PPORTUNITY for professional growth and good pay keynote the future for scientists who choose to specialize in the agricultural chemicals industry, say leaders in this field. Demand for technologists right now is bigger than the supply. And this condition is ex- pected to continue for years to come. Promises of favorable employment in agricultural chemistry are backed up by increasing needs for insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and related ma- terials. These products, widely used in agriculture, are also growing in value for highway, park, and forest main- tenance and in many public health programs. While agricultural chemicals is a relatively small industry—about $25 million in sales of basic chemicals in 1956-it has one of the fastest growth rates of any industry in the country. Sales have increased 640% since 1940, compared with 550% for the whole chemicals industry. The industry consists of 340 chemi- cal companies. Some make basic pesticide chemicals. Others formulate products for use by pest control agen- cies, farmers, and landowners. • Careers for Scientists. The Na- tional Agricultural Chemicals Associa- tion has asked the heads of agricultural chemical companies to describe career opportunities for scientists in the indus- try. It says their answers point to a young industry with almost unlimited choice of jobs for trained personnel. No-Dough Quiz Show Midland, Mich., junior high schoolers play "Science Quiz" just for fun. This session is monitored by Frank Scheldt of Dow and the ACS Midland Section which runs the "science interest" show. Competition in the quiz is among teams, four students each, coached by section members. They answer questions in sci- ence including chemistry, biology, and physics. Teams call themselves "Nuclear Nitwits," "Molecular Morons," "Atom-mizers," "Ν. Ε. Brains," and other "funnies." Finals in the program are planned for TV next spring. The industry is looking for many kinds of scientists—entomologists, plant pathologists > plant physiologists, horti- culturists, nemoiogists, agronomists, chemists, biochemists, chemical engi- neers, and agricultural engineers. Most of the companies, NACA says, hire five to 10 new scientists each year. Some need as many as 150 a year. At pres- ent the demand far exceeds the supply. In addition to research jobs in agri- cultural chemistry, scientists are used in sales, production, market research and development, advertising, and adminis- tration. Technically trained people who have management ability are always in demand because the entire industry is basically scientific. The industry can also use many technicians—those with less training than a B.S. in science. However, as in other industries, the de- gree ensures quicker personal progress. • Salaries Are Good. Top salaries in agricultural chemicals, NACA reports, range from $10,000 to $15,000. Monthly starting salaries in most com- panies now average: Technicians B.S. M.S. Ph.D. $275-$325 375- 450 425- 550 525- 650 As in other technical jobs, science and mathematics provide the best back- ground for college specialization. Mathematics, chemistry, biology, ento- mology, plant pathology, horticulture, agronomy, and forestry are basic sci- ences applied in the industry. The National Agricultural Chemists Association, 1145 19th St., N.W., Wash- ington, D. C , has published the results of its survey on careers in agricultural chemicals in its NACA News and Pesti- cide Revietv. Included are articles on specialized work in agricultural chem- istry by heads of the professional socie- ties in the field. • A course in atmospheric sampling will be held at the Robert A. Taft Sani- tary Engineering Center from Nov. 12 to 22, 1957. Emphasis in the program will be on availability, applicability, and use of instruments for studying at- mospheric pollution. Sampling and field analysis for both particulate and gaseous pollutants will be covered, and exercises will help develop skills in in- strument usage. Enrollment is by application. Further information may be obtained from Paul Woolrich, Chief, Air Pollution Training, Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, Cincinnati 26, Ohio. 96 C&EN OCT. 2 1, 1957
Transcript of Agricultural Chemicals: Open Field
E D U C A T I O N
Agricultural Chemicals: Open Field This young, uncrowded industry has room for many specialists in research and administrative jobs
Ο PPORTUNITY for professional growth and good pay keynote the future for scientists who choose to specialize in the agricultural chemicals industry, say leaders in this field. Demand for technologists right now is bigger than the supply. And this condition is expected to continue for years to come.
Promises of favorable employment in agricultural chemistry are backed up by increasing needs for insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and related materials. These products, widely used in agriculture, are also growing in value for highway, park, and forest maintenance and in many public health programs.
While agricultural chemicals is a relatively small industry—about $25
million in sales of basic chemicals in 1956-it has one of the fastest growth rates of any industry in the country. Sales have increased 640% since 1940, compared with 550% for the whole chemicals industry.
The industry consists of 340 chemical companies. Some make basic pesticide chemicals. Others formulate products for use by pest control agencies, farmers, and landowners.
• Careers for Scientists. The National Agricultural Chemicals Association has asked the heads of agricultural chemical companies to describe career opportunities for scientists in the industry. It says their answers point to a young industry with almost unlimited choice of jobs for trained personnel.
No-Dough Quiz Show Midland, Mich., junior high schoolers play "Science Quiz" just for fun. This session is monitored by Frank Scheldt of Dow and the ACS Midland Section which runs the "science interest" show. Competition in the quiz is among teams, four students each, coached by section members. They answer questions in science including chemistry, biology, and physics. Teams call themselves "Nuclear Nitwits," "Molecular Morons," "Atom-mizers," "Ν. Ε. Brains," and other "funnies." Finals in the program are planned for TV next spring.
The industry is looking for many kinds of scientists—entomologists, plant pathologists> plant physiologists, horticulturists, nemoiogists, agronomists, chemists, biochemists, chemical engineers, and agricultural engineers. Most of the companies, NACA says, hire five to 10 new scientists each year. Some need as many as 150 a year. At present the demand far exceeds the supply.
In addition to research jobs in agricultural chemistry, scientists are used in sales, production, market research and development, advertising, and administration. Technically trained people who have management ability are always in demand because the entire industry is basically scientific. The industry can also use many technicians—those with less training than a B.S. i n science. However, as in other industries, t he degree ensures quicker personal progress.
• Salaries Are Good. Top salaries in agricultural chemicals, NACA reports, range from $10,000 to $15,000. Monthly starting salaries in most companies now average:
Technicians B.S. M.S. Ph.D.
$275-$325 375- 450 425- 550 525- 650
As in other technical jobs, science and mathematics provide the best background for college specialization. Mathematics, chemistry, biology, entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, agronomy, and forestry are basic sciences applied in the industry.
The National Agricultural Chemists Association, 1145 19th St., N.W., Washington, D. C , has published the results of its survey on careers in agricultural chemicals in its NACA News and Pesticide Revietv. Included are articles on specialized work in agricultural chemistry by heads of the professional societies in the field.
• A course in atmospheric sampling will be held at the Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center from Nov. 12 to 22, 1957. Emphasis in the program will be on availability, applicability, and use of instruments for studying atmospheric pollution. Sampling and field analysis for both particulate and gaseous pollutants will be covered, and exercises will help develop skills in instrument usage. Enrollment is by application. Further information may be obtained from Paul Woolrich, Chief, Air Pollution Training, Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, Cincinnati 26, Ohio.
9 6 C & E N O C T . 2 1, 1957
