Utah Crop Improvement Association and Utah State University seek an individual to represent Utah Crop Improvement Association in Northern Utah and surrounding areas by assisting in and promoting the seed certification program working with seed farmers and conditioners in production of high-quality certified seed.

Vehicle will be provided by employer but rare, occasional use of personal vehicle may be needed (mileage reimbursed).  A Flexible work schedule is needed with concentration of workload during planting, seed harvest, and seed processing seasons. Workload will average out to about 10-30 hours per week annually (75% time) with the opportunity to expand.

Major workload will be during the months of June, July, and August.

Work hours and responsibilities can be highly variable to match the applicant’s schedule as a student or other employment or interests.

Location - Northern UT, Box Elder and Cache Counties and surrounding area.

Assist with work in Certified Seed Program for Utah.

Seed Certification – 75% of time

• Seed field and farm equipment inspection
• Inspect and accurately determine plant variety characteristics for genetic purity, and crop quality factors in certified seed production fields to meet certification standards.
• Applicant will need to identify each of the major crop kinds, rangeland plants, and weeds
• Inspect wildland seed collection sites and identify rangeland plants and yield potential.
• Assist seed producers and seed conditioners in producing certified seed lots to meet certification standards.
• Some travel throughout the Western United States will be needed.
• Assist with maintaining utahcrop.org website
• Some general office work related to seed certification and production reporting will be required.

Foundation Seed – 25 % of time

• Assist in foundation seed production, allocation and distribution
• Maintain, manage, and produce foundation seed from multiple sources including production on UAES farms
• Track, monitor, ship and invoice foundation seed distributions and inventory.

Minimum Qualifications:

This position will be hired at either the Research Technician I, II or III level based on qualifications and duties assigned.

• Research Technician I
  Six months work related experence and/or related educational programs in agriculture.
• Research Technician II
  Two years of experience or an associate degree/vocational training.
• Research Technician III
  Four years of experience; or an associate degree plus two years of experience; or a bachelor’s degree; or an equivalent combination of education plus experience.

For all levels:

• Experience in production agriculture, preferably small grains, alfalfa seed, grass seed, and other forb and shrub seed production.
• Experience in farm machinery operation and repair, weed control, fertility, and crop irrigation for seed production.
• Applicant will need to learn to identify and recognize differences in crop varieties, weeds, genetic off-types, and diseases that potentially contaminate seed crops.
• Good personal and communication skills to work with, understand, and resolve concerns with farmers and other agriculturalists and seedsmen.
• Applicant will also be expected to learn to correctly identify reclamation plants and seeds on wildland sites.
• Applicant must also be self-motivated and willing to work alone.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong farming background with mechanical repair and other general maintenance skills.
• College credits or a degree in an agricultural crop production with some experience or knowledge of Agronomy and/or rangeland science related fields.
• Some computer experience and personal communication skills are preferred and will be beneficial.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV” 
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application  

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Outdoors, incumbents may not be protected from weather conditions and may be exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. Additionally, indoor or outdoor work environments may include being confined or in narrow spaces for periods of time. The incumbent may also be exposed to loud noises or vibrations from equipment, and conditions that may affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and poor ventilation. Bending, crawling, and crouching may be required. Incumbents may be required to lift, push, and/or pull objects up to 50 pounds and be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023