Conservation Agronomist

Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc. is a grower, packer, and shipper of potatoes & onions.

• Click here to read more about our Sustainability and Stewardship practices at Alsum Farms and see how YOU could make a difference at Alsum Farms.

Position Overview

Alsum Farms, Inc, a sister company to Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc., is seeking a full-time dedicated and experienced Conservation Agronomist to join our team! Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc. is a grower, packer, and shipper of potatoes & onions. As an Alsum Farms Conservation Agronomist, you will play a crucial role in overseeing various aspects of our agricultural operations, with a specific focus on crop management, field trials, seasonal employee management, and recordkeeping. Your responsibilities will also involve managing the Alsum Healthy Grown partnership and continuously seeking ways to improve agricultural practices and achieve success together as a team.

A Day in the Life of an Alsum Farms Conservation Agronomist:

• Collaborate with UW Extension to manage the Alsum Healthy Grown partnership, ensuring adherence to best practices and overseeing prairie plantings.
• Record, plan, and map crop insurance activities, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance.
• Develop and implement farm field trials, concentrating on potato varieties, fertility programs, and crop protection strategies to identify sustainable approaches.
• Create and manage nutrient management plans, optimizing the use of fertilizers and other nutrients.
• Supervise seasonal employees for miscellaneous field labor tasks, storage loadout, storage bin preparation, and seed cutting.
• Coordinate and plan the seed cutting and planting season, ensuring smooth operations and accurate placement of varieties and fertility programs.
• Oversee planter operations, including pesticide and fertilizer mixing and application, as well as seed depth and spacing.
• Follow and enhance crop development protocols during the summer growing season, conducting stand counts, stem counts, and monitoring plant development.
• Assist in field scouting activities conducted by in-house and third-party scouts as required.
• Monitor and track fertility applications and conduct tissue sampling to determine nutrient requirements.
• Perform yield and quality checks throughout the season, prioritizing harvest order and identifying quality issues for resolution.
• Supervise storage line operations during harvest to ensure proper handling, separation of dirt and foreign material, and sorting of potatoes by size.
• Oversee the collection of harvest quality and size samples for farm trials and ensure all necessary data is recorded.
• Assist with USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) record keeping.
• Oversee the bi-annual recording of irrigation well depths.

Why the Conservation Agronomist position is important to Alsum Farms:

The role of Conservation Agronomist is vital to our company's commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and continuous improvement. You will be instrumental in ensuring the success of our Alsum Healthy Grown partnership, implementing innovative field trials, optimizing nutrient management plans, and overseeing various essential aspects of our crop production. By driving environmentally conscious practices and ensuring efficiency, you will contribute to the growth and prosperity of our agricultural operations.

Job Details

• Job Type: Full-time
• Job Schedule: The working hours for this position are Monday to Friday, with additional work on Saturdays and Sundays during Planting, Harvest, and some periods in the Summer season. The typical shift starts at 6:00 am and ends at approximately 4:00 pm.
• Work Location: Arena, WI
• Salary: $60,000-$70,000 per year

Education: 

• Associate degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or related field is preferred.

Certification: 

• Certified Crop Advisor (or ability to obtain within 2 years of employment).

Experience: 

• Previous experience in potato farming or a similar crop production environment is preferred.
• Proven experience in management and supervising employees.
• Familiarity with crop insurance procedures and record keeping.
• Knowledge of sustainable farming practices and familiarity with farm field trials.

Qualifications:

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities.
• Proficiency in crop management techniques and fertility planning.
• Ability to organize, record, and manage crop production records and use farm management software.
• Familiarity with farm machinery, such as planters and harvesters.
• Knowledge of pesticide and fertilizer application techniques.
• Familiarity with data collection and analysis for crop monitoring and evaluation.
• Understanding of USDA GAP requirements and record keeping.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to utilize Human Resource Information System (HRIS) software as both a user and at a supervisor level.
• Valid state motor vehicle license with an acceptable motor vehicle record.

Physical/Environmental Demands:

• Ability to climb stationary ladders and climb in and out of machinery.
• Can lift, move, push, and pull up to 100lbs.
• Ability to use hands to fix and replace machinery parts.
• Physical stamina to perform laborious tasks as needed to assist farm personnel.
• Exposure to airborne particles or fumes.
• Must wear safety glasses and hearing protection in designated areas.

Alsum Benefits

Alsum Farms & Produce offers its full-time (30 hours or more) employees:

• Employer contributed health plan
• Employer paid life insurance
• Voluntary dental, life, disability, and vision insurance
• Vacation and holiday pay
• Profit sharing
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee discounts
• Educational assistance program

• Salary Description - $60,000-$70,000/year

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace