Madison, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/29/2017 --AgTech is increasingly being used to help solve complex problems in agriculture to meet the needs of our modern, high-tech food system. To keep up with these challenges, companies seek employees with backgrounds in agriculture and information technology. And, with a high demand, plenty of career opportunities exist for farm kids with an interest in technology, or computer geeks with an interest in agriculture.

The AgTech field is extensive and has huge growth potential. Using information technology, companies are trying to solve problems in the agricultural supply chain and to improve agricultural data management. Robotics and sensors are being used to optimize crop performance, effectively manage water, and to improve livestock health. Agribusiness managers use computers to track data and conduct business through word processing, spreadsheets, online applications, precision agriculture software, financial services software, and recordkeeping databases.

"AgCompass recognizes the need to spread awareness about career paths available to students with interests and backgrounds that combine information technology with agriculture," says Nick Chambers, Business Development Manager at AgCompass. "Using technology to improve access to farm data is how AgCompass started out more than 15 years ago, and the AgTech field has expanded tremendously since then."

Describing themselves as technophiles, with deep roots in agriculture, AgCompass was founded by Ken Wedig, who worked in information technology at John Deere for more than 30 years, and Ev Chambers, a farmer and consultant with a Ph.D. in Horticulture, who has worked in the ag industry for more than 50 years. To help promote the field and contribute to the industry, the team at AgCompass is offering the free guide, "Bright Future for Students Interested in Agriculture and Information Technology."

"With a description of each program and quotes from leading experts, the guide is a useful resource to learn more about the different options available and offers tips for selecting from the various fields of study," says Chambers. "The guide includes a list of universities with accredited degree programs in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, but also stresses the importance of gaining technical and practical experience through summer work or internship programs."

Many universities with programs in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering also have degree programs in Agribusiness, Computer Science, and Information Technology. Coursework in multiple degree programs can be taken as electives, or students may choose a related minor or double major, depending on each school's requirements and opportunities. Many universities, especially large land-grant institutions, offer students work study or internship programs related to their chosen fields.

To download the free guide, "Bright Future for Students Interested in Agriculture and Information Technology," go to agcompass.com/agit. There, visitors can also learn more about AgCompass, a software hosting company for agribusinesses and CPA firms. AgCompass is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed and provides a free newsletter, blog posts, and other content related to managing electronic data more efficiently.

About AgCompass
The IT staff at AgCompass share a background in agriculture and they provide unlimited, U.S.-based support to clients. The advantage of hosting your software with AgCompass is that they provide all of the software updates, conduct daily backups, and your data is stored in a world-class data center making it less vulnerable to hardware failure. AgCompass can host any windows-based software including QuickBooks, FBS, RedWing, Microsoft products, and many more. To schedule a free consultation and demonstration, call 844-4-AGCLOUD.