Agronomist

**Job Summary** The Agronomist is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring agronomic programs that maximize crop yield, crop quality, profitability, and environmental stewardship. This position provides technical expertise and recommendations related to seed fertility programs, crop protection, irrigation management, soil health, nutrient utilization, and integrated pest management. The Agronomist partners with farm operations personnel to ensure agronomic plans are executed safely, accurately, and efficiently. This role combines crop analysis, field scouting, data analysis, operational support, and regulatory compliance to achieve production goals while promoting continuous improvement throughout the agricultural operation. **Essential Duties and Responsibilities** **Safety** - Comply with all company safety policies, procedures, and training requirements. - Promote and model a culture of safety throughout all agricultural operations. - Ensure fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals are handled, mixed, transported, stored, and applied in accordance with label instructions and all local, state, and federal regulations. - Utilize and enforce the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during chemical handling, field inspections, and equipment operations. - Conduct field safety observations and identify unsafe conditions, hazards, or practices requiring corrective action. - Participate in safety meetings, incident investigations, and corrective action planning. - Understanding of OSHA, EPA, Department of Agriculture, and pesticide regulatory requirements applicable to crop production activities. - Capable of reading the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) that are involved in chemical use. - Evaluate weather conditions and environmental risks to minimize spray drift, runoff, and environmental exposure. - Follow safe operating procedures for equipment used in agronomic operations. **Quality** - Conduct routine crop scouting to evaluate crop health, emergence, stand establishment, weed pressure, insect activity, disease presence, and nutrient deficiencies. - Support agronomic recommendations designed to maximize crop yield and quality. - Collect and interpret soil samples, tissue samples, manure analyses, and other agronomic data to support sound decision-making. - Conduct fertility soil tests, yield goals, crop removal rates, and nutrient requirements. - Re appropriate seed varieties and hybrids based on field characteristics and production objectives. - Monitor pesticide, fertilizer, and manure applications to ensure accuracy, effectiveness, and compliance with agronomic recommendations. - Ensure irrigation practices support optimum crop growth and efficient water utilization. - Document accurate and timely records of field observations, applications, and agronomic activities. - Evaluate application performance and adjustments to improve effectiveness and consistency. **Productivity** - Develop annual crop management plans aligned with production goals and operational objectives. - Analyze yield data, field performance trends, and production metrics to identify opportunities for increased efficiency and profitability. - Utilize precision agriculture technologies including yield mapping, GPS guidance, variable-rate applications, and agronomic software to improve productivity. - Coordinate agronomic activities with planting, spraying, irrigation, harvest, and post-harvest schedules. - Understand the movement of sprayers, spreaders, planters, and application equipment to ensure operational efficiency. - Assist with planning and forecasting seed, fertilizer, crop protection, and agronomic input requirements. - Monitor crop development and review based on changing field conditions and weather patterns. - Support manure nutrient utilization plans to maximize nutrient value and minimize waste. - Operate agricultural equipment to support critical field operations. **Teamwork and Collaboratio…