To determine needed competencies in welding for agricultural maintenance, questionnaires from 185 farmers familar with welding and 96 job-shop welders representing 40 percent of the Iowa vocational agriculture departments were rated and evaluated. The ten most needed competencies in arc welding were found to be: (1) understanding of the effect of amperage, arc length, speed of travel, and angle of electrode on weld quality, (2) ability to weld in various positions, (3) understanding of properties of metals, (4) ability to select proper electrode and amperage setting, (5) understanding of poperties and uses of electrodes, (6) understanding of safe operating procedures, (7) ability to prepare and fit pieces to be joined, (8) ability to weld cast and malleable iron, and (9) ability to recognize and make corrections for weld defects. In oxyacetylene welding, the most needed competencies were the abilities to adjust proper gas settings, obtain correct flame, select welding and cutting equipment and materials, identify steel and cast iron temperatures by color, as well as to understand safe operating procedures and the effect of tip size, gas pressures, speed of travel, angle of tip, and type of flame on weld quality. This M.S. thesis was submitted to Iowa State University. (GB)