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How exposed to AI is a Agricultural Technician?

Of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for agricultural technicians, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 21 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Agricultural Research Technician (Agricultural Research Tech)Agricultural Research TechnologistAgricultural Technician (Agricultural Tech)Agriculture AssistantAgronomy Research Technician (Agronomy Research Tech)Field AssistantInsect Research Technician (Insect Research Tech)Lab Tech (Laboratory Technician)Seed Analyst
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
26
tasks rated for this occupation
37%
hold a degree, from a survey of only 18
14k
people do this job in the US
60 of 60
least protected in science

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Prepare data summaries, reports, or analyses that include results, charts, or graphs to document research findings and results
  • Respond to general inquiries or requests from the public

Only with software built on top

3
  • Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care
  • Record environmental data from field samples of soil, air, water, or pests to monitor the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) practices
  • Conduct studies of nitrogen or alternative fertilizer application methods, quantities, or timing to ensure satisfaction of crop needs and minimization of leaching, runoff, or denitrification

Cannot be sped up

21
  • Measure or weigh ingredients used in laboratory testing
  • Set up laboratory or field equipment as required for site testing
  • Prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols to ensure that they will be stored, prepared, and disposed of efficiently and effectively
  • Examine animals or crop specimens to determine the presence of diseases or other problems
  • Collect animal or crop samples
  • Supervise pest or weed control operations, including locating and identifying pests or weeds, selecting chemicals and application methods, or scheduling application
  • Supervise or train agricultural technicians or farm laborers
  • Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops
  • Conduct insect or plant disease surveys
  • Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness
  • Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring
  • Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks
  • Perform laboratory or field testing, using spectrometers, nitrogen determination apparatus, air samplers, centrifuges, or potential hydrogen (pH) meters to perform tests
  • Perform tests on seeds to evaluate seed viability
  • Perform general nursery duties, such as propagating standard varieties of plant materials, collecting and germinating seeds, maintaining cuttings of plants, or controlling environmental conditions
  • Devise cultural methods or environmental controls for plants for which guidelines are sketchy or nonexistent
  • Prepare culture media, following standard procedures
  • Transplant trees, vegetables, or horticultural plants
  • Prepare or present agricultural demonstrations
  • Determine the germination rates of seeds planted in specified areas
  • Assess comparative soil erosion from various planting or tillage systems, such as conservation tillage with mulch or ridge till systems, no-till systems, or conventional tillage systems with or without moldboard plows
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.