Assistant Agronomist

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Potatoes.
Create a cropping plan, including maps, planting order, and variety recommendations; manage labor crews during the field season; oversee and manage irrigation designs, equipment, and installations; manage weekly irrigation scheduling for all crops; lead weed, pest and disease scouting, and make recommendations for elimination; recommend, schedule and supervise the application of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizer and other crop-enhancing /protecting sprays; recommend, schedule and supervise the application of soil amendments to ensure that the soil is healthy and ready to receive the potato seed; pull soil samples, use soil probes and VRT Technology to monitor the condition of the soil for moisture and disease; pull petiole samples and perform yield digs; prepare and supervise preparation of potato seed for planting, ensuring that the cutter is working correctly and application of seed treatment is being applied correctly.

Supervise agricultural workers performing crop production activities. Assign daily work duties, train workers in planting, cultivating, or harvesting techniques. Train workers on safety protocols. Perform quality control inspections on products. Observe workers to detect inefficient or unsafe work procedures. Review work to evaluate timeliness and proficiency. Prepare reports on production and crop yield. Supervise chemical application and other work activities associated with crop production.

Outdoor work required when plants are wet, or during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours may vary. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Work is done outdoors for long periods of time and requires prolonged periods of standing and/or walking, repetitive movements, and frequent bending and/or stooping. Workers must be able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects (product, containers) in accordance with the specified lifting requirements.
Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has an accident at work. Clean driving record required. Must have or be able to obtain driver's license within 30 days following hire. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may be asked to drive other workers.
Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

The employer will offer 3 shifts per 24 hours with an unpaid lunch break Monday through Saturday:

(Shift 1) 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(Shift 2) 2:00 p.m. to 11.30p.m.
(Shift 3) 10:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Each worker will be assigned to a shift.
TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a five-day trial period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the trial period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 12 months of verifiable agricultural experience as a horticultural grower with agronomiic recommendations and farm management experience. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has an accident at work. Clean driving record required. Must have or be able to obtain driver's license within 30 days of hire. Must be willing to work 1st, 2nd or 3rd shift hours.