Agricultural Assistant II

Classification Minimum Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent and two years of relevant experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

General Agricultural Assistant Duties:

• Partner directly with Farm Manager and Farm Supervisors to complete specific research and extension programmatic duties.
• Perform in-field procedures using a variety of equipment for field, greenhouse, or lab experiments.
• Driving will be required for this role.
• Maintain records on crops, plants, or experiments.
• Coordinate maintenance and operation of farm equipment.
• Serve as co-lead for farm construction and maintenance projects.
• Document crop and weather conditions and recommend timing for planting, cultivation, and harvesting.
• May train other workers in farm tasks.
• Install, maintain, and repair all irrigation and sprinkler systems.
• Maintain roads, grounds, supplies, and move equipment.
• Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush.
• Serve as essential personnel during emergencies.
• Expected to be available to prepare for a storm, provide facility protection during the storm, and take the first steps towards restoring normal operations.

Row Crop Spray Technician Duties:

• Oversee daily integrated pest management across HAEC subunit facilities.
• Perform chemical and fertilizer applications on assigned areas for weeds, insects, and disease.
• Prepare and apply proper herbicides, insecticides, or fungicide mixtures.
• Apply dry, granular, and liquid fertilizers to turf, ornamentals, horticultural, and agronomic crops.
• Monitor the health of assigned areas and plants as well as insect populations and diseases.
• Maintain proper documentation as required by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as well as University policy and procedures.
• Ensure all chemical storage, transportation and disposal are complete in compliance with regulations and product requirements.
• Remove weeds mechanically and manually where needed.
• Prepare disease plant samples for laboratory submission and analysis.
• Interact with Assistant Director, Farm Manager, and Farm Supervisors to manage buildings and grounds, office space, greenhouses, irrigation wells, pumps, etc.
• Co-supervise all unit equipment resources, especially spray applicator equipment.
• Work with Farm Manager, Director, Assistant Director and Farm Supervisor to develop strategies for integrated pest management decisions.

Educational Event Support:

• Work directly with Assistant Director, Farm Manager and Farm Supervisors to structure and promote educational Extension events (e.g., Field Days).
• Assist with providing support to and working with other unit, county, or state personnel to facilitate extension educational programs across all HAEC sub-unit facilities.

Working Hours: 7:00am - 3:30pm Monday - Friday (40 hours/week) or 6:30am - 5:00pm Monday - Thursday (40 hours/week); 4-10 schedule may be necessary. Incumbent will need to occasionally work a different schedule to accommodate successful completion of field experiments as needed. Incumbent may need to be available for extension activities which may occur after normal working hours.

Expected Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.

Required Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent and two years of relevant experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Stellar communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated strength in organization and efficiency meeting deadlines.
• In-depth experience supporting research farming operations.
• Moderate proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience with digital facility management tools a plus.
• Effective communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with pesticide applications.

Health Assessment Required: Yes, this position will involve climbing, frequent reaching above shoulder, heavy lifting, kneeling, pesticide use, repeated bending, and repetitive pulling and pushing.