Qualifications
This career requires at least a bachelor's degree. The best programs are typically found in A&M universities or at in-state land grant schools. So, the good news is there's no need to pay out-of-state tuition or travel far from home to study.
There should be lots of A&M or land grant universities to choose from, but some of the top programs are at the University of California-Davis, University of Georgia, and Texas A&M University (source).
So, after you get a bachelor's degree, then what? Remember, private sector jobs and jobs with the local or state government pay roughly the same early in your career. That said, if you get a few years' experience, salaries for both private and federal government research jobs really start to climb.
One reason for this is because these higher level jobs require more college. But it's probably a good idea to start your career after getting your first degree, then work up from there.