The demand for skilled technicians and graduates in the six career cluster areas of agriculture is dramatically expanding. Many of tomorrow's jobs in agriculture have not been imagined. It is an exciting, challenging and dynamic career field. PLANT & SOIL SCIENCE Agriculture is California's most important economic industry. There is a strong demand for well-trained, environmentally sensitive individuals to provide the state, nation, and the world with food and fiber and a healthy environment that is functional and aesthetically pleasing to the community. Projections show that there will be more jobs than applicants in the areas of marketing, biochemistry, soil science, irrigation development and water quality. ANIMAL SCIENCE Animal production for food, fiber, recreation and companionship is one of the leading areas of the agricultural economy in California. Careers in this pathway require the knowledge and skills needed to service, manage, and improve economic, social, environmental, and biological aspects of this industry. Courses in managing animals, economic and environmental resources prepare students for technical and professional level positions in the animal industry. ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE Ornamental Horticulture is a diversified profession experiencing rapid growth and change. These conditions have been spurred by changing life-styles and technology, demographic changes in population, growth in the housing market, recognition of urban and rural environmental concerns, and emphasis on aesthetics. These concerns have created a need for careful planning of the interaction between people and their natural surroundings. Based on these concerns, the projected outlook for employment in Floriculture, Landscape Design and Nursery Production is good. NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY This exciting industry provides job opportunities in the development, operation and maintenance of outdoor recreation enterprises. Job titles include park rangers, ski resort managers, guides, grounds workers, public relation agents, salespeople for horticultural supplies and campground managers. Employment in the field of Forestry requires course work in forest production, fire protection, cruising and scaling, harvesting and forest engineering. Jobs are available through governmental agencies and private enterprises. AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS Today's agricultural engineering and power equipment industry is a multifaceted technology that matches hydraulic power to electronic controls and powerful engines to an efficient transmission of power. This industry has become very specialized and requires technicians who can diagnose, test, analyze, and repair equipment. Persons interested in equipment design and construction, land leveling, or layout and design of irrigation systems would find employment in this pathway. AGRI-BUSINESS Agricultural Business students will find many job opportunities in the managerial and financial ranks. Demand will be greatest for environmental program managers, landscape managers, retail food service managers, and import/export managers. Agri-Business ties together all the disciplines of agriculture: agricultural production, and processing. Rapid technological advances, new markets, foreign competition, and other factors have combined to change agri-business irreversibly. These changes have brought about a new, exciting, and complex decision making environment. This all results in a need for stronger leaders, more creative scientists, international business understanding, and an increased sensitivity towards consumers and our environment. Almost ten percent of today's professional jobs in agriculture go unfilled. As the demand increases for agricultural products, so does the demand for qualified individuals in the agricultural industry. Rapid changes in agriculture will require employees to have more advanced training than ever before. A college education is needed for nearly all preferable positions.