Purpose and Key Results of the Position

The Nursery Technician will assist the Nursery Manager in selecting, developing and perpetuating varieties of rice that support the company’s sale of rice products. Success in this position will contribute to the company’s ability to maintain certification of selected varieties, and provide sufficient seed to meet production requirements. The technician will also assist the Nursery Manager in conducting other field crop (including bean, quinoa and cover crop) research projects to meet the company’s need for new product development and sustainability.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

1. Assist the Nursery Manager in seed preparation, planning, planting, maintenance and harvest of headrow and small plots for breeder seed or foundation seed production.

• Sorting, selecting and stripping of rice panicles into containers (envelopes, vials, or bags) for planting.
• Preparing field for planting; measuring, staking, setting up screens in levees for purity assurance, managing water into plots; hand planting of headrows (dry and/or in water).
• Taking notes and observations of fields and individual headrows.
• Rogueing and recording of seed contaminants or off-types of headrows and small plots; completing paperwork necessary for CCIA’s seed field inspection.
• Harvesting of selected head rows and delivering of seeds to the Dryer & Storage department for drying and recording.
• Cleaning and making inventory of seeds for quality control.
• Operating and maintaining of equipment for planting (transplanter, tractor, truck, air compressor, vacuum, seeder/drill), harvesting (thresher, air compressor, vacuum, grass knives), conditioning (lab cleaner, stationary cleaner) and evaluation (lab mill, cooker).

1. Assist the Nursery Manager/plant breeder in preparation, planning, planting, managing, and harvesting of a breeding nursery for variety evaluation and new line development.

• Planting and managing of parent lines and F1 seeds in the greenhouse for making crosses and advance.
• Performing crosses as directed
• Harvesting, processing and recording of seeds from greenhouse plants.
• Preparing and planting of progeny rows or small yield plots for advance and variety trials.
• Taking notes and observations of progeny rows and plots.
• Harvesting, drying, cleaning, organizing, and recording of seeds of selected panicles, plants, rows, and plots.
• Conducting milling and cooking test as needed.

1. Assist executing of field or greenhouse trials of other crops (e.g., beans and cover crop) as needed in seed introduction, experimental design, planting, field management, data collection analysis.
2. Assist leading the nursery staff including nursery assistants and seasonal causal or temp workers in field operations throughout the growth season.
3. Assist managing of greenhouse, seed house, freezers , and other facility through minor repairs, sanitation, and routine maintenance.
4. Assist the manager preparing reports to P3/R&D, Agriculture and Sales Department for seed production, new variety, new technology or product evaluation.
    

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. B.Sc. in agriculture and biological sciences, with work experience or training in plant breeding, seed production, and field operations is preferred.
2. Must have good attitude and work ethics, with strong interest in agriculture and organic food production.
3. Demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues and supervisors at all times.
4. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (must speak English).
5. Proficient in computing, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other softwares
6. Familiarity with rice culture or ability to learn. Attention to details.
7. Methodical and thorough working habits.
8. Be able to work well under pressure. Meet multiple and sometimes competing deadlines.
9. Physical abilities to perform above tasks (bending, reaching, pulling, lifting 40# bags/buckets, walking in fields for extended periods, sitting at desk ).
10. Must be able to (learn to) operate the equipment used in this operation safely with minimal training. Equipment currently used includes: Computer, Ford pickup, Mitsubishi plot harvester, bundler, stationary thresher, John Deere 2840 tractor, Tye Drill seeder, air compressor, vacuum, grass knives, small seed cleaner and lab equipment (cleaner, mill, etc), power tools (drill, screwdriver, etc) and hand tools.

Additional Responsibilities

• Interface with Rice Research Station, CCIA and other outside entities regarding variety development, maintenance and certification.
• Other duties as assigned.
   

Work Environment

The nursery technician will be required to work indoors at a desk during seed preparation and small lot cleaning and outside during seed cleaning, planting, growing and harvest. Crossing of rice will be both inside and outside. Conditions range from a heated/air-conditioned office, hot and dry rice fields, humid flooded rice fields and hot, humid nursery greenhouses. The work requires both a clean, organized workspace as well as working in muddy conditions.

Physical Activities Required to Perform Essential Functions

• Sitting/Standing/Walking: Sitting during seed preparation, walking wet and dry fields, standing and sitting to make crosses, bending over to plant rows, reaching/pulling to rogue, etc.
• Speaking/Hearing: Ability to effectively communicate with co-workers and supervisors
• Vision: Must have good vision to distinguish minute differences in rice plants and also to see the parts of the rice plant necessary in making crosses.
• Lifting/Carrying: Must be able to lift 40# bags of seed.
• Stooping/Kneeling: Must be able to stoop or stand for several hours in the course of planting rows and harvest. This is for a short period of 25-30 days during the season.
• Reaching/Handling: Must have good flexibility to work with equipment and hand buckets and bags of seed from transport vehicles.

Applications

Please send application and resume to tlavey@lundberg.com