Meet Emily Snyder.
Graduating in December of 2013 as an agricultural science and technology major, Snyder didn’t have to look long before securing a job that allows her to incorporate the skills and knowledge she acquired during her time with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
After hearing about the job opportunity through her former professor, Dr. Scott Glenn in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Snyder applied to be a nutrient management adviser for University of Maryland Extension in her hometown of Frederick, Md. The Extension Program is a statewide, informal education program run by the University of Maryland with offices located in every county in the state, as well as Baltimore City. Snyder was hired and began working in early February.
As a nutrient management adviser for Frederick, Snyder works with farmers in the area to give them recommendations on how much fertilizer they can use, how they can increase crop yields and how to stay within the boundaries of Maryland law.
"I interpret their soil, manure and plant tissue tests and tell them what they can do," says Snyder.
Snyder's future plans as a recent graduate are to find an apartment in Frederick and to continue to work in and learn from Extension for the time being. She believes her current job will put her on the right path to reaching her ultimate goal of becoming an agronomist in the private sector, for companies like Monsanto or Syngenta.
"This job is actually a pretty good stepping stone to one of those agronomist-type jobs," says Snyder. "Because nutrient management would be a part of my future job."
