A professional who conducts experiments or investigations in field-crop problems and develops new methods of growing crops to secure more efficient production, higher yield, and improved quality. Responsibilities include:

• Plans and carries out breeding studies at experiment stations or farms to develop and improve varieties of field crops, such as cotton, tobacco, or cereal with respect to characteristics, such as yield, quality, adaptation to specific soils or climates, and resistance to diseases and pests (plant breeder).
• Studies crop production to discover best methods of planting, cultivation, harvesting, and effects of various climatic conditions on crops.
• Develops methods for control of noxious weeds, crop diseases, and insect pests (plant pathologist).
• May specialize in specific field crop, group of field crops, or specific agronomic problem.