Crop Technician - Plant Sciences

CSU Careers•San Luis, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Plant Sciences department head, this individual primarily oversees the department’s sustainable row crop production, including vegetable and forage crops, and their associated facilities and equipment. The incumbent will be responsible for the irrigation and fertilization program, pest management program, and all non-organic production of vegetables and forages for the Plant Sciences department. The incumbent will also provide services in support of instructional laboratories and research projects, including assisting faculty in the set-up of laboratory classes, providing training to faculty and students in the proper use of equipment and safe execution of field operations, scheduling operations in concert with safe and timely access by faculty and students for lab and research projects, and providing supplies and ensuring equipment is kept in good working order. The incumbent will provide oversight and technical training to student personnel at the Crops Unit. The incumbent is responsible for performing or supervising all phases of safety and food safety training and crop production activities, maintaining department adherence to safety, food safety, fertilizer, and pesticide regulations, and maintaining records and inventory (pesticides, tools, safety equipment, etc.). The Plant Sciences (PLSC) Department is an academic unit within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES). The department is comprised of a department head, full-time faculty and part-time lecturers, support staff, 250 undergraduate majors, and a varying number of student assistants. The facilities associated with PLSC include the Department’s Crops Unit, with 70 acres of evergreen and deciduous fruit trees and berry production, 35 acres of forage crop and annual row crop production, of which 11 acres are certified organic, and 10,000 sq. feet of greenhouse space; a 16-acre Horticulture Unit consisting of 40,000 sq. ft. of greenhouse space, extensive outside production and display areas, and 7,500 square feet of shade houses; and the Leaning Pine Arboretum. The Department offers the Plant Sciences major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. Within this major are three concentrations: Environmental Horticultural Science, Fruit and Crop Science, and Plant Protection Science.

Requirements

Experience with primary and secondary tillage equipment and process.
Ability to operate, maintain and repair farm and technical equipment, including two and four-wheel drive vehicles (including off-road travel), ATV, mini-excavator, wheel track tractors; irrigation lines and pumps preparation, planting, cultivating, and harvesting equipment.
Ability to read, interpret and work from plans, drawings, and technical manuals.
Ability to independently plan, prioritize, supervise, and coordinate day-to-day tasks and long-term projects and complete work assignments in a timely manner.
Knowledge of State and Federal laws and regulations related to crop and horticultural pest management and control and ability to interpret and communicate as needed to ensure that all legal aspect of pesticide application, clean-up, and storage are adhered to.
Demonstrated ability to successfully complete technical calibrations for a variety of pesticide and fertilizer application equipment.
Thorough knowledge of the operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery and other equipment employed in the production of crops.
Demonstrated ability to monitor for crop pests, build a database and analyze results for effective pest management.
General knowledge of the hazards of equipment operation and chemical use, and safety rules pertaining to crop production activities; including risk management U.S. EPA Pesticide Worker Protection Standards.
Three years of progressively responsible experience in the production of field, garden, vegetable, or specialty crops (orchards, vineyards, feed crops, etc.).
Equivalent to 60 semester or 90 quarter units of academic work at a recognized college or university, including agriculture and science courses applicable to the production of general field and specialty crops. (Additional specialized experience which has demonstrated that the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year experience for each 30 semester or 45 quarter units of accredited college work).
Ability to fulfill within 9 months of hire the following license and categories (depending on which is missing at date of hire): PCA license – and at least two categories from the following: insects, mites and other invertebrates (Category A), Weed Control (Category E), Plant Pathogens (Category B), or Vertebrate Pests (Category D); QAC – Plant Agriculture (Category D).
Possession of a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain by date of hire.

Responsibilities

Oversees the department’s sustainable row crop production, including vegetable and forage crops, and their associated facilities and equipment.
Responsible for the irrigation and fertilization program, pest management program, and all non-organic production of vegetables and forages for the Plant Sciences department.
Provides services in support of instructional laboratories and research projects, including assisting faculty in the set-up of laboratory classes.
Provides training to faculty and students in the proper use of equipment and safe execution of field operations.
Schedules operations in concert with safe and timely access by faculty and students for lab and research projects.
Provides supplies and ensures equipment is kept in good working order.
Provides oversight and technical training to student personnel at the Crops Unit.
Performs or supervises all phases of safety and food safety training and crop production activities.
Maintains department adherence to safety, food safety, fertilizer, and pesticide regulations.
Maintains records and inventory (pesticides, tools, safety equipment, etc.).