The Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment report provides a national outlook on workforce demand and the supply of qualified graduates across these essential fields. Published every five years, it helps students, educators, employers and workforce leaders understand where opportunities are emerging and how colleges and universities can prepare graduates to meet changing needs.

The report series began in 1980, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture commissioned the first study of employment opportunities for college graduates in agriculture, natural resources and veterinary medicine. Kyle Jane Coulter and Marge Stanton developed the original methodology and authored the inaugural 1980-85 report.

The 2025-30 report is the 10th in the series. It continues the report’s established approach while incorporating new data sources and methods to reflect today’s broader and more complex workforce. The latest study includes associate degree recipients, large-scale job-posting data, regional findings and a more detailed analysis of careers related to food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment.

Researchers from Purdue University and Kansas State University conducted the 2025-30 study with funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and guidance from an advisory panel representing higher education, government and the agriculture workforce.