I don't know if that's necessarily true, that it would be a scientist that knew the planting cycle, or soil conditions. It would certainly be a Scientist testing the PH of the soil, forecasting the weather and accounting for climatology(I don't care if it is the 31st century, a machine can never replace a human forecaster), and doing all the science, but as far as applying that information to say, we shouldn't plant when it's raining, or we should wait a couple days after the rain to plant, would need to be a scientist. And certainly the techs would fix the equipment, but a laborer would be the one operating it. After all, techs and scientists are not as numerous as laborers, so laborers would have the most diverse skill sets, although not as useful.
Caste Breakdown (as I see it, Broken Down Barney Style)
Merchant - I trade things
Warrior - I fight over things
Laborer - I pick things up and I put them down
Tech - I maintain the machines that pick things up and put them down
Scientist - I design the machines that techs maintain that pick things up and put them down
Obviously that's in order of Job complexity, not Importance to clan society. Warriors may be at the top, but A good clan warrior (Wardens are the Best) knows that He is ony as good as the equipment the Scientists design, the laborers build, and techs maintain.
The clan castes are only as educated as they need to be to perform their function. However, they don't discourage growth, as long as said growth benefits the clan. If a laborer compiles a farmer's almanac, and makes referencing information easier, and thus makes growing easier, the clan won't say that it's time wasted. If a tech builds a widget that makes his job easier, allowing him to work more efficiently, the clan won't argue.
The clans are utilitarian, ethically and practically, so if it makes you more useful it's ok. As long as you can explain how it makes you more useful.
