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For the last 10 years, the Argentinean government has introduced a broad policy of structural adjustment which has led, in particular, to a reduction in its staff numbers and the decentralisation of its services to provincial and municipal authorities. Because of the sheer size of the country, the government has sought to maintain its influence in the development of rural areas. As a resuit, the impact of these reforms has been felt not only in public agencies dealing with rural affairs and on the popularisation of “agricultural techniques,” but also throughout the entire corps of agricultural engineers. This article describes the consequences of these reforms on the rôle of agricultural engineers and the transformation of their role due to the introduction of enterprises and changes in the relationship between the administration and their profession. It highlights the emergence of new professional practices and identities through the introduction of a new category of civil servant: technical agents of municipal councils in small- and medium-sized towns.