Locations: Extension Regional Offices in 1) Crookston, 2) Morris, and 3) Moorhead
Timeframe:Summer 2024 (approx. May 20 â“ Aug 20, 2024)
Apply By:April 15, 2024
About the Position
The employees' main responsibility will be to collect wheat pest and disease and soybean pest and disease information in western Minnesota farm fields. This information will benefit Extension and our stakeholders by feeding digital, print and in-person programming in a timely fashion. Employees would spend the majority of their time outside the office and could likely work from home for other tasks such as data entry.
Key responsibilities will include:
Attending spring scout training kickoff and bi-weekly Zoom meetings to learn more about scouting protocols, what to look out for and best practices
Working independently to travel to farm fields and survey wheat or soybean crops for insect pests and diseases in the assigned scouting region, with the goal of visiting as many fields as possible each week
Maintaining upkeep of leased UMN fleet vehicle and follow all UMN rules regarding use of this vehicle
Collecting and delivering data as desired by project leaders
Communicating with project leaders
Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
A semester of post-secondary class experience in collecting biological data and basic identification of organisms.
Must be able to work independently and with an attention to detail while completing tasks with and without supervision.
Must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driverâ™s licenses, and be able to use a University fleet vehicle to complete tasks.
Successful candidates will spend most of their time in both a vehicle and in farm fields, including on uneven terrain, during summer weather conditions.
Additional Requirements:
Physical requirements include: bending, reaching, lifting (under 20 pounds), driving for long periods of time, walking and navigating through fields and uneven terrain to collect samples
This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
2+ years of experience in integrated pest management, entomology, plant pathology, agronomy, soils and soil fertility, agricultural education, or related field is desired but not required.
Ability to readily identify plants (e.g., crop growth staging), insects, or diseases.
1+ years of biological data collection and management experience in field settings.
1+ years of experience in the agricultural industry; on farms or in retail settings.
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.