An agrologist is a professional you can expect:

• to have academic training from an accredited post-secondary institution;
• to continually update skills and knowledge;
• to practise only in his or her area of expertise; and
• to be a member in good standing of a provincial institute of agrology.

Agrologists are dedicated to:

• maintaining high standards of knowledge, integrity and ethics; and
• protecting clients and the public from exploitation by unqualified, dishonest or fraudulent practitioners.

Agrologists are found practising in a wide variety of areas both within and outside of the field of agriculture. You'll find agrologists in such disciplines as research and development, marketing and market development, primary production, food processing, education, public relations and advertising, transportation, financial management, quality assurance, aquaculture, natural resource development, information technology, advocacy, and environmental management. You'll find that agrologists can be teachers, salespeople, managers, loans officers, writers, broadcasters, consultants, technicians, researchers, regulators, entrepreneurs - to name but a few of the career paths open to agrologists.

The Agrologist Act 

The Agrologist Act defines an agrologist as a person who is qualified to teach or practice the science or art of agrology.

According to the Act, practicing agrology includes every act, with or without reward, which has as its objective the experimentation with or the giving of advice with respect to the principles, laws or practices relating to the production, improvement, use, processing or marketing of agricultural products, crops or livestock.

The Act also defines who is not considered to be practicing agrology within the context of the legislation:

• farmers unless they hold themselves out to be an agrologist;
• undergraduate students working under the direct supervision of an agrologist and not taking responsibility for their work other than to their immediate supervisor;
• anyone registered and holding professional status in another profession recognized by statute in the Province of Manitoba provided they do not hold themselves out to be an agrologist;
• anyone practicing their profession as a chemist, forester, land appraiser, land surveyor or a person servicing or repairing farm machinery, provided they do not hold themselves out to be an agrologist; and
• anyone who gives advice relating to the quality or use of the article or product that they offer for sale, if such advice is given under the authority or supervision of a member.