Extension Agent Agriculture Jobs NC 2026

North Carolina State University, through NC Cooperative Extension, is hiring an Extension Agent, Ag for Wayne County in Goldsboro, North Carolina. This is a full-time, permanent role for someone who wants to turn research into practical help for farmers and rural communities. The Agent leads research-based educational programs in field crops, including tobacco, corn, cotton, peanuts, small grains, and soybeans, and serves as the County Pesticide Coordinator, running licence training for private, public, and commercial applicators. As Extension Agent, Ag, you’ll build programs with local, university, and regional partners; maintain producer contact lists for on-farm outreach; provide one-on-one technical consultations on inputs, plant health, and production problems; host workshops, field days, and compliance training; manage demonstration sites; advise on soil testing, tissue sampling, and environmental stewardship; help producers prepare for drought, storms, and crop damage recovery; supervise volunteers; and measure the impact of your work. The position may be hired at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Agent level, depending on qualifications.

About NC Cooperative Extension — Research for Everyday Life

Organization: NC State Extension, with access to NC State and NC A&T State University

Office: NCCE-Wayne County, Goldsboro, North Carolina

Focus: Agriculture, the environment, human health, youth, and communities

Wayne County: Strong crop production, livestock, and agribusiness sectors

Mission: Unbiased, research-based information for North Carolina residents

Department: NCCE-Wayne County

Primary Focus: Field crop education, pesticide licensing, producer support

Scope: Wayne County farms, schools, civic groups, and community events

Mission: Helping growers and residents turn science into practical, profitable solutions

Extension Agent, Ag Position Overview

The Extension Agent, Ag role is one of the most direct ways a university reaches the farm gate. Working from the Wayne County office in Goldsboro, the Agent leads educational programs in the major field crops grown across the county and the wider region, and brings research-based guidance to growers who need it. Pesticide education is a core responsibility. As County Pesticide Coordinator, you’ll run training courses for private, public, and commercial applicators who need to obtain or keep their licences, and you’ll make sure the programme meets regulatory expectations. Much of the work is one-on-one. Growers call on extension agents for help with crop inputs, plant health problems, and production decisions, and you’ll provide technical consultations that help them solve real problems in the field. Programmes are shaped with others. You’ll maintain producer contact lists for regular outreach, convene advisory committees to understand community needs, and work with university specialists and extension colleagues on trials and demonstrations, while seeking local partnerships and funding for field work. Hands-on demonstration sites help show what works, and you’ll manage them as learning tools for producers and the wider public. Emergency preparedness is also part of the role, from drought and storm planning to helping farmers through crop damage assessments and recovery. Outreach extends beyond the farm to schools, youth groups, civic organisations, and the media, to help communities understand the importance of agriculture. Finally, you’ll keep careful records of visits, consultations, and outcomes, reporting impact through official systems so that the public can see the value of the work.

As Extension Agent, Ag, you’ll deepen your command of field crop production, integrated pest management, pesticide regulation, soil and plant diagnostics, and emerging agricultural technologies, while developing the communication and leadership skills that extension work relies on. The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 for other routes, in agriculture or a related field, and a master’s degree is preferred. Strong written and oral communication, self-direction, the ability to manage several priorities, and good networking and relationship-building skills are essential. Experience with budgeting, public relations, and resource management is valued, as is the willingness to travel within the county, the state, and the district, with travel reimbursed under state guidelines. A valid North Carolina driver’s licence is required. For agriculture graduates and farm professionals in eastern North Carolina who want to serve their community through research-based education, this role offers a rewarding and varied career.

Why This Role Matters: As Extension Agent, Ag in Wayne County, you help growers protect yields and make better decisions about inputs and plant health, train the pesticide applicators who keep farms compliant and safe, bring university research to local fields and classrooms, support farm families through drought and storm recovery, and build a public career in agricultural education and community service in North Carolina.

 Key Responsibilities & Extension Duties

Program Planning & Innovation

• Develop programmes aligned with NC Cooperative Extension and university policy
• Maintain producer contact lists for regular on-farm outreach
• Convene advisory committees to identify community needs
• Partner with extension peers and university specialists on research and trials
• Secure local partnerships, grants, and industry sponsorships
• Plan field demonstrations that test emerging practices

Pesticide Education & Licence Training

• Serve as the County Pesticide Coordinator
• Lead licence training for private applicators
• Lead licence training for public and commercial applicators
• Support applicators in obtaining and maintaining licences
• Keep training aligned with pesticide regulations
• Promote safe, compliant pesticide use across the county

Technical Consultations & Field Support

• Provide one-on-one consultations for field crop producers
• Advise on crop inputs to improve efficiency
• Diagnose plant health issues in the field
• Guide soil testing and plant tissue sampling
• Advise on environmental stewardship and water quality
• Follow up with producers on recommendations

Workshops, Demonstrations & Education

• Host workshops, field days, and compliance training
• Showcase research and precision agriculture technologies
• Manage demonstration sites for local crops and practices
• Deliver farm safety education to community members of all ages
• Work with schools, youth groups, and civic organisations
• Share sustainable management practices with producers

Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Recovery

• Help producers plan for drought and storm events
• Support post-disaster crop damage assessment
• Connect growers with recovery resources
• Provide agronomic alerts and pest warnings during emergencies
• Coordinate with state and county partners during events
• Support farm families through recovery planning

Outreach, Volunteers & Communications

• Engage the public, civic groups, and media on agriculture’s importance
• Train and supervise volunteers on agricultural initiatives
• Share agronomic updates through newsletters and social media
• Collaborate with office staff on community events such as county fairs
• Answer public questions about agriculture and extension services
• Build relationships with local media and community leaders

Evaluation, Records & Accountability

• Maintain detailed records of farm visits and consultations
• Track client follow-ups and compliance activities
• Run post-programme evaluations to measure learning and practice change
• Log reach and impact data into official reporting systems
• Show public return on investment through clear reporting
• Support leadership with performance information

Education & GPA

• Bachelor’s degree in an agricultural or related field with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale)
• Bachelor’s degree plus at least half of a master’s curriculum with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, with one degree in agriculture or a related field
• Completed master’s degree in an agricultural or related field
• GPA requirement waived for NCCE Program Associates with a bachelor’s degree

Preferred Education & Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, crop science, agricultural education, or agribusiness
• Master’s degree preferred
• Understanding of field crop production and integrated pest management
• Knowledge of pesticide regulations and soil and plant diagnostics
• Familiarity with emerging agricultural technologies

Department Skills

• Strong oral and written communication
• Self-directed, self-motivated, and able to set priorities
• Strong work ethic and leadership skills
• Budgeting, public relations, and resource management skills
• Networking with community partners and agencies
• Excellent time and resource management

Licensing & Other Requirements

• Valid North Carolina driver’s licence (required)
• Commercial driver’s licence not required
• Willingness to travel within the county, state, and district
• Final candidates subject to criminal and sex offender background checks
• Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks

Career Development & Growth Opportunities

Professional Advancement

• Pathway from Assistant or Associate to Full Extension Agent
• Opportunity to lead county programmes and staff
• Exposure to university specialists and regional extension teams
• Growth within a statewide research-based education system

Learning & Development

• Access to NC State University resources and expertise
• Training in pesticide education and applicator licensing
• Experience in field demonstration and programme evaluation
• Development of leadership, communications, and grant-seeking skills

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible spending account and retirement programmes
• Disability plans, life insurance, and accident plan
• Paid time off, 12 holidays per year, and other leave
• Tuition and academic assistance
• Childcare benefits, wellness programmes, and recreation membership

 About NC Cooperative Extension — Serving Every North Carolinian

NC Cooperative Extension is a partnership between North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and county offices across the state. Its field faculty deliver unbiased, research-based information through educational programmes, publications, and events, helping residents apply science to agriculture, the environment, health, youth development, and community life. Its employees work across the state, sharing the same benefits and community as the wider NC State University family.

Career Excellence in Agricultural Extension: Join a respected university extension service, lead field crop education and pesticide training in Wayne County, support growers with research-based advice, build partnerships across the community, and grow a public career in agricultural education in North Carolina.

 Who Should Apply?

• Agriculture Graduates: Starting a career in extension
• Crop Consultants and Agronomists: Ready for a public-sector role
• Pesticide Applicators and Trainers: Interested in licence education
• Agricultural Educators: Passionate about teaching farmers
• Master’s Students in Agronomy: Seeking a county-level post
• Eastern North Carolina Residents: Committed to rural communities

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