Description
- This is a full-time permanent job. It is to help fine tune the agronomic practices for Rourke Farms/Rourke Farm Partnership.
- Greenhouse and growth rooms are used to conduct some winter trials.
- If necessary, overtime work on weekends is required, especially in the busy seeding and harvesting seasons.
Duties
- Must be able to lead a research team to find sites, stake out trials and research plots, take soil samples, calibrate and operate a research scale plot seeder with a cone distribution system, calibrate and operate fertilizer placement system for research plots, calibrate and operate various research scale plot sprayers including tractor mounted, walk behind, motor propelled, push style sprayers and hand-held wand type sprayers, be able to calibrate, set and operate a plot combine.
- Must be able to work with crops including but limited to canola, wheat, barley, soybeans. dry edible beans, peas, oats, corn and forage crops.
- Must be able to identify crops, weeds, diseases and insect pests and recommend control measures.
- Must be able to use input label rates to calculate the correct amount of chemical needed to treat the plots and research trials.
- Must use safety equipment as per company, industry and government regulations.
- Must be able to conduct plot-based assessments such as biomass ratings, plant counts, crop vigor ratings. Crop height, crop lodging, crop maturity ratings.
- Must be able to use software such as Agricultural Research Manager, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Must conduct basic equipment maintenance and damage prevention.
- Must be able to drive up to a 1-ton truck, load and unload, and transport research equipment with a 1 or 2 axle trailer.
- Must be able and willing to work outside in inclement weather.
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
- Must have a valid driver license and be able to travel to the work site at Minto, Manitoba daily.
- Must be able to work extended hours to ensure timely operations.
- Must be flexible in work times to help avoid inhospitable weather such as extreme heat.
- Must be able to work in dusty conditions.
- Must not be late without prior approval.
Qualifications
- Minimum 2-year Diploma in agriculture, crop production and agribusiness.
- Minimum 2 seasons of small plot crop production research experience.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.