AS PART OF A STATEWIDE STUDY OF AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS IN LOUISIANA, AN INTERVIEW SURVEY OF 233 AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES AND AGENCIES IN THE 10-PARISH AREA IN THE NORTHWESTERN SECTION WAS CONDUCTED TO (1) IDENTIFY AND CLASSIFY FIRMS WITH EMPLOYEES NEEDING AGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES, (2) IDENTIFY AGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR ENTRY AND ADVANCEMENT, AND (3) IDENTIFY CHARACTERISTICS OF ALL JOB TITLES. THE FIRMS EMPLOYED 4,847 WORKERS OF WHICH 2,451 IN 438 JOB TITLES NEEDED AGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES. AN ESTIMATED 170 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES WILL BE NEEDED WITHIN 5 YEARS. EMPLOYEES WERE FOUND IN EIGHT OCCUPATIONAL FAMILIES AND NINE EMPLOYMENT LEVELS. OVER 78 PERCENT OF THE JOB TITLES WERE FOUND IN THE OCCUPATIONAL FAMILIES--(1) FARM SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, (2) LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY, (3) CROPS, FORESTRY, AND SOIL CONSERVATION, AND (4) FARM SERVICE. THE MEAN MINIMUM AGE FOR JOB ENTRY WAS 22. EMPLOYERS WANTED EMPLOYEES WITH AT LEAST A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND MORE THAN 18 PERCENT PREFERRED SOME COLLEGE TRAINING. A FARM BACKGROUND WAS PREFERRED IN 64 PERCENT OF THE JOBS. THE PROFESSIONAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY, AND SALES EMPLOYMENT LEVELS GENERALLY REQUIRED BROAD AGRICULTURAL TRAINING WITH CONCENTRATION IN A SPECIFIC AREA. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INDUSTRY SCHOOLS WERE THE MOST COMMON MEANS OF SUPPLYING CONTINUING EDUCATION. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT, A LIST OF TOWNS AND BUSINESSES SURVEYED, AND A LIST OF WORKERS IN EACH ARE INCLUDED. OTHER AREA SURVEYS AND RELATED STUDIES ARE AVAILABLE AS VT 004 782 - VT 004 787. (JM)