He has a good start as a farmer but you saying this.......

Dairy in a number of other areas is booming.

Matt, You do not know what you are talking about. Do you know what the current price of milk/cwt is......I doubt it.

As far as environmental engineers, it would be good to get some good practical common sense engineers instead of the pencil neck book worms. Which in Wisconsin the extension office for soil and water both Federal and state are shutting down the smaller farmers that are good stewards to the land and overlooking the larger farmers that are bending/breaking environmental rules and regulation mostly because they are high profile farmers.......that owe banks and business alot of over due debt for them to operate, and these bureaucrats overlook this........if they fail, they will bring hardship to these business. even though they are just digging the hole larger.

p911

Dear p911,

You wrote "Matt, You do not know what you are talking about. Do you know what the current price of milk/cwt is......I doubt it."

Here is a quote from a very close friend of mine who owns one of the largest dairies in eastern WA "I can't keep my supply up to meet the increased demands this year."

Fact: one of the largest dairies in eastern WA is having issues with producing dairy products to meet the market demand. Fact: this is not the only case I that I know about. I have discussed this and other business issues with them, since my line of work includes improving the bottom line.

I would like to thank everyone for the input and encouragement. It's good to hear from people actively involved.

I never intended to start a discussion about the dairy industry here as that's probably not relevant to the topic, I was just giving some background info on myself. Regardless of the economics of the situation I have decided for a multitude of reasons I won't go into here that it's time to pursue something else in life. My comment that the dairy industry was in the toilet was probably misleading, what I should have said is that it's not good for the people actually milking the cows. There is plenty of profit to be had on the processing/retail side.

That said I'm open to all opinions/comments. I actually live in northeast Iowa right now, but my fiance and I are interested in relocating to somewhere warmer. I am very interested in the ecological engineering program at Oregon State as I mentioned earlier, but nothing is set in stone yet and we are both open to other possibilities. Thanks again!

Brian

I'm an electrical engineer, and I've always been under the impression that enviro engineering is a good choice. That being said, if you're open to it, Power Engineering (and any engineering related to power generation, transmission, distribution) is sure-fire winner for you.

I'm Canadian, but what I say applies even more so to the US. I've talked to a department head at the NYPA (NY Power Authority) and he told me that if 5,000 PEs were to graduate at the same time that year, every one would land a job in no time. The shortage of qualified labor in that field is HUGE. Lack of experience isn't a barrier .. companies will take recent graduees and let them grow into their work.

Another big thing is Steam Engineering (Stationary Engineering, as it's often called in Canada). That involves taking courses, getting work experience, taking exams to rise to the next level, etc. Education isn,t university level, and the lower levels demand less study. But as you work your way up from Fourth Class to Third Class, etc., your your abilities (and responsibilities) rise, as does your paycheck.

Case in point: here in Canada, 3rd and 4th Class Stationary Engineers can make the equivalent of around $100,000 US per year because SEs are in such short supply, and because all pressurized-steam systems in North America, Europe, etc. MUST be operated by SEs. The downside with the $100,000 salaries is that 3rd and 4th Class SEs aren't terribly motivated to move up to 1st and 2nd Class status, and that despite the fact that 1st Class SEs here in Canada make around $250,000 US these days.

Good luck in your studies! DZ

I definitely agree with the struggle. I started as an environmental engineer at Indiana's Office of Air Quality (IDEM OAQ) in Jan 2007 at the age of 31. This field really requires someone that strives/survives on struggle and challenges. Now that I am a Pollution Prevention (P2) Env Engr at Indiana' Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance (OPPTA), I do have less of a struggle. Note: Indiana is a Republican state which means it is very business friendly.

One part of the industry missed is the Sustainability Engineer. I have known a few that are doing really well at their companies. Most of them have civil engr degrees with an emphasis in enviro. My own job has expanded to be more along the lines of sustainability than just P2. My only frustration is that as a state employee, I only make suggestions on how to be more enviro friendly and improve a manufacturing process. I don't get to manage the project all the way through. On the good side, I get to see all kinds of manufacturing processes from RV manufacturing to wastewater treatment plants to cabinet manufacturing to manufactured housing to electroplating to surface coating, etc. I learn something new at every facility that I visit and provide my suggestions to. For me, the best part of this career is getting a follow up report back from a company that has implemented my suggestions and the report states how much they saved in pollution, kWh, solid waste, haz waste, water/wastewater and dollars.

WWkayveker,

So nice of having your comments.It is a fact that even as pollution control officers 100 % implementation of environmental health can not be realized. It calls for an empathetical concern on all factors, players involved. I am so happy to hear your note on getting satisfied about feed back reports on implementation of your recommendations, which is an assurance of the right job performance expected of you. Please keep it up. Like you ,I too have the opportunity of visiting various types of industries and enrich my knowledge which is really worth.

As an environmental green volunteer, my endless quest is to provide solutions to major issues and in many cases , the job of BELLING THE CAT. Somehow I could develop a shameless and waiting attitude. No other go of course

Given that a 100-year-old climbed to the top of Mount Fuji recently, one is never too old to do anything.

There will always be a demand for qualified Engineers, though one might have to move around a bit to find employment. Singapore and South Korea might be added to a CV/resumé that encompasses a number of places in the British Isles, including Eire, for example.

Environmental engineering is a rewarding field, especially for someone with your background. It requires a good understanding of physics, chemistry and biology, and how these disparate factors all interact together. Given your background as a farmer, you would be uniquely suited to understand how rainwater runoff from farms will pollute groundwater, and how pollutants can adversely affect crop yields and animal husbandry.

You should really go for it if it interests you. You would definitely be an asset to your fellow farming friends because of your background, and no, you are definitely not too old to make the change.

Even though your ultimate goal is environmental engineering, I would suggest pursuing one of the more basic disciplines, such as mechanical or civil. The reason for this is that a mechanical or civil degree, with your background in agriculture, will easily qualify you for most environmental engineering positions, whereas a more specialized study program may limit your future choices. Any course of study will only give you the tools you need- real knowledge and efficacy only come from on-the-job learning.

Even if the dairy industry were to suddenly experience a miracle turn-around and you decided to stay in that field after all because of your love of cows, your engineering studies would make you a better farmer. After your first couple of years of engineering school, a whole new universe of opportunities will have become obvious to you. Do not narrow your horizons too much...

The day I stop learning is the day they start covering my face with dirt (or stuff my remains into the incinerator, whichever the wife decides is most appropriate).

What an exciting time for you in life - a fiance and changing careers to something that really interests you - good for you!!

Oregon State is a very good educational facility (my opinion) for environmental related career education.

I agree there's plenty of profit to be made and being made in the dairy industry.

To sum up the posts, seems most of us said, if you have the desire, want to pursue it, and are ready to give it your all, then do it !

Sincere best wishes to you!! You are thinking through the potential, doing some investigation, so I'm sure you will choose and do great.

Matt S.

ditto

p911

OK a few more thoughts I probably should have posted earlier that may solicit more advice.....I am very interested in the potential to work outdoors/work on environmental improvements at least part of the time. I would prefer not to have to live in a large metro area or work in an industrial type setting or a mostly lab work/desk type job. Am I asking too much or is this realistic? That's part of my reasoning for wanting to stay away from mechanical/electrical engineering but maybe I'm off base on that. I did come across a renewable energy engineering program at a technical college in Oregon that I find interesting although the curriculum is definitely mechanical/electical related (solar panels, fuel cells, wind turbines, etc) Any thoughts?

Brian

Milkman wise Decision to make it part time. Keep living with your known trade and develop your environmental service activities as a side activity, learn, pursue and succeed. You got the right answer and approach to your goals, ....cause, I am doing the same.

You could become an environmental consultant for CFOs and CAFOs. Most dairy farms fall into this category. You would already have the experience for it. From the way it sounds, dairies need all of the help that they can get. This is a part time or full time job. You control your work load and provide compliance/permitting work and provide improvements.

Remember, the engineers design the work. The PM manages the work site. The supervisor manages the work. The workers do the work. And sometimes, the engineer is the PM.

I have been looking for the same outdoor engineering experiences, but went to undergraduate for Environmental Studies. It entailed alot of aspects you could use in an environmental engineering / economic / or public position. Myself, I have worked as a mechanical field engineer to assist in industrial projects i.e. ethanol plant, combined cycle turbine, and a fluidized bed boiler for three years. Recently I looked into doing some graduate school. I decided to go into Environmental Energy and Sustainability. I believe the forces of nature will drive those two fields into every aspect of our lives. It takes energy to do just about everything except enjoy our surroundings, however, unless you live in the country it takes energy to get to places that can be truly enjoyable..i.e..I live in the cities, but not a big fan as I was raised in the country around alot of dairy farmers.

One thing that you could look into would be aerobic digestion / methane use / and algea growth to utilize on dairy farms to offset energy and waste disposal costs. My company is running trials on a system right now, cannot give specifics, but essentially we are hoping to have a pilot plant on acouple farms in WI. I am finding simple engineering designs to implement for ground source heat pumps (geothermal) and small scale wind turbines for residential or commercial use. I hope to leave my professional career and start my own company installing such feathures, as I believe the demand is going to grow and grow. Germany for instance created 200,000 new jobs in 2007 for just solar power installers and maintenance. Haven't seen that many new jobs in one sector in one year in the US economy in my whole lifetime. However, it does not mean it cannot happen. We need cut the red tape and open the windows of our beuracracies though. Democracy only works if the constituents respect the same understandings and can get along, while facilitating our elected officials with the tools, and understanding we have to get shit dun!

Best of luck, and keeps us updated!~ Don103

Occupational Outlook Handbook (a government publication: www.bls.gov/OCO/) will provide you with salary ranges, education/training requirements, and work conditions along with present and future employment potentials. Electrical engineers typically get high salaries and bonuses, but it has one of the most difficult curriculum in college. You might check out hydrological degrees. Most engineering degrees typically take up to five years to complete. especially if you have math skills that need to be improved. Good luck! I admire your decision.