Soil Conservationist

Summary

This vacancy is located at the Plant Materials Center in Pullman, WA. The incumbent will provide plant science solutions to water quality concerns, control erosion on cropland and critical areas, improve forage production and quality on pasture and rangelands, and improve wildlife habitat. This is accomplished by evaluating plant species and vegetative technologies providing plant related information to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field staff to support their clients.

Duties

• Administers and conducts Plant Materials Center (PMC) studies and activities to support plant materials agronomic plant and vegetative technology testing program.
• Develops study plans, designs appropriate tests and experiments, maintains and monitors plantings, collects and analyses quantitative data, interprets results, and assembles and transfers results of information to customers.
• Assists with preparation of the Plant Materials Center annual reports and other special reports covering results of work accomplished.
• Prepares and delivers plant materials training sessions. Provides current research-based information to external and internal customers.
• Provides training to field staff in the areas of conservation planning, agronomic practice benefits, water quality, nutrient and pest management, pasture management, plant science, residue management, tillage, cover crops, conservation buffers, etc.
• Assists the Plant Materials Center Manager with business management functions of the Plant Materials Center (PMC).
• Assists in developing a long-range program plan and an annual business plan to incorporate actions to address concerns identified at the state and regional level.

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