Potato Farm Agronomy Intern

Job Type: Full-time, Paid Summer Internships

Growing Season:
May 2027 - September 2027.

Start and end dates are flexible with university academic calendars.

Job Duties:

Work with farm agronomists to make treatment decisions based on thresholds, economics, weather and additional IPM centered factors. Collecting wheat population density, growth stage and disease data. Scouting potato, corn and soybean fields for weeds, insects and diseases. Majority of time is spent in the potato crop looking for plant diseases and quantifying Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, pressure.

There will also be work with the farm manager on farm operations projects.

• Reporting all data into a mobile phone scouting app, farmQA.
• Collecting weekly potato petiole and soil samples for nitrate tracking and nutrient levels. The intern will help manage the sampling, paperwork and shipping samples every week.
• Soil sampling using GPS technology for nematode populations and soil health properties in potato fields. The interns will take the lead on the nematode tracking project. This includes collecting, keeping records, storing and transporting samples to the university testing lab or personnel.
• Attending a scout classroom training day in Mecosta, Michigan.
  
  Attending field training sessions with other interns throughout the summer.

Applicants should be enrolled college students or recent college graduates interested in plants, insects, plant disease, agronomy, precision agriculture or farming as possible career interests.

• a reliable vehicle and valid Driver’s License.
• the physical ability to walk over potato hills for 8 or more hours each day.
• a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
• the physical ability to work outdoors in humid and warm summer weather.
• the availability to work some long days for periodic trips to the Michigan location.

• Work experience scouting potatoes or another crop.
• Knowledge or college coursework in crop scouting, plant health, plant biology, soil science or botany.
• Experience in agronomic pest identification such as weeds, insects and fungal pathogens.
• Experience with some GPS technology or Precision Agriculture.

This agronomy internship offers an opportunity to learn about IPM practices in commercially grown chipping potatoes. There are many challenges in growing a healthy potato crop including harm from plant parasitic nematodes, insects and disease to the seed piece, stem, leaves or tubers. Interns receive extensive training and work closely with the agronomists.

It requires teamwork to make the best management decisions. The work is intense because potatoes are a complicated vegetable crop. Potato fields are scouted weekly.

Pay Rate:
Hourly Rate of $17.00.

Mileage is reimbursed for use of personal vehicle between potato fields. 72.5 cents/mile. All other equipment is provided. Additional benefits to be discussed after application submission.