Thanks,
Laura Lengnick, Coordinator, Sustainable Agriculture - Field Crops
Soil Microbial Systems Laboratory
Building 318, Room 108
Beltsville Agriculture Research Center - East
Beltsville, MD 20705
email llengnic@asrr.arsusda.gov
____________________________________________________
Position Description - Support Scientist GS9/11
Long-Term Cropping Systems Research Project
The incumbent serves as Field Manager of a Long-Term Cropping
Systems Research Project (CSRP) located at the Beltsville Agriculture
Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, MD. The CSRP was initiated in
1993 to provide a field production research setting in which to explore
biological and social aspects of field crop production in the Middle
Atlantic region. After three years of baseline site characterization
work, the project is entering the final phase of planning and
establishment of the cropping systems chosen for study. This project is
part of the BARC Sustainable Agriculture Program, a multidisciplinary
program that seeks to identify and solve biological and social
constraints to the sustainable production of horticultural and agronomic
crops in the Middle Atlantic states; studies methods to improve field and
vegetable crop production systems; develops, extends, and stimulates the
use of research information to improve the viability of farms, while
sustaining long-term agricultural productivity and enhancing
environmental quality.
The incumbent is responsible for varied duties necessary to the
planning, establishment and maintenance of field crop production systems
on research plots and surrounding areas to ensure consistency with
scientific goals of the CSRP. These duties include planning and
implementing field operations in crop rotations, including planting,
irrigation, cultivation, nutrient and pest management using cultural,
non-chemical and conventional methods, collection and processing of soil
and plant samples, and harvest of various crops in the experimental plots
and surrounding areas; maintaining an accurate, organized history of
field-related operations and practices and daily observations on field
crop ecology related to plant health and development, insect and other
pest infestations; participating in project planning, including
experimental design, budget planning, analysis of program needs, and
acquisition of equipment and facility updates for the research site.
This position requires a self-motivated individual with recent relevant
experience in managing the successful production of cash grain crops
using cultural and non-chemical practices.
The successful applicant will demonstrate experience in the
production of field crops with cultural and non-chemical weed, insect and
disease control strategies, including substitution of non-chemical weed
control practices for herbicide application, substitution of bio-organic
materials for inorganic fertilizers and the management of tillage and
crop rotations to optimize nutrient cycling and availability and minimize
pest pressures; thorough knowledge of cultural practices for field crops
in rotation and the equipment required to carry out such practices
ranging from land preparation to harvest and residue incorporation;
completion of the BS degree in an agricultural or biological science and
at least one year of professional experience.
The incumbent plans, directs, and assists in field operations and
data collection, establishes work priorities, and exercises independent
judgement in the daily resolution of situations in accordance with CSRP
research objectives, under the general guidance of the project director.
The project director relies on the incumbent's expertise in field crop
production using cultural and non-chemical methods.