JOB POSTING: Onion Crop Scout
Be a Vital Part of New York Onion Production! We are looking for someone who appreciates agriculture to scout commercial onion fields in Oswego Co. and/or Wayne Co. for 13 weeks during the summer, maximum 19 hours/week, who would return to the seasonal position annually.As an Onion Crop Scout for the Cornell Vegetable Program (CVP), you will independently scout 11 commercial onion fields collecting data on insect pests, diseases, weeds and crop stage/quality. Scouting data will be summarized into a preliminary report which is finalized by Cornell's Onion Specialist. Growers use the scouting reports to inform their spray decisions, which enables an integrated approach to pest management. Your hard work will ensure grower engagement, implementation of research-based recommendations, and early detection of emerging issues. It is the "beating heart" of CVP's onion program.
Pay: $18.50/hr. No benefits. Personal mileage will be reimbursed at the federal rate.
Key Qualifications & Skills:
- High School diploma and 6 months experience in an agriculture setting, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Must be able to meet the travel requirements of the position and have reliable transportation as well as have and maintain a valid and unrestricted New York State driver's license.
- Visual concentration and attention to detail are required to detect pests and pest damage.
- Able to work independently in collecting and summarizing data.
- Must be able to work outdoors in all types of weather.
- Proven experience in communicating effectively, both written and oral.
- Preferred: Experience working with plants, plant disease and other pest identification.
Training will include being accompanied by a veteran onion scout for the first season with the intention of scouting independently in the second year, and ideally for several more years after.
Flexible on start and end dates, day(s) of week you work, and whether Oswego or Wayne or both counties are scouted. Our priority is finding someone who will return to the position annually.
Read details about the Onion Crop Scout position.To apply (resume and cover letter):
http://tiny.cc/Onion_Scout_WDR_00043345Management Practices for High Organic Matter Soils
We are exploring management practices for vegetable farmers with high organic matter soils. These soils are usually found in urban growing areas as urban farmers typically grow in imported soil mixtures that have been constructed over time and in high tunnels where leaching events are limited. In both cases, we see that soil pH and calcium levels can increase due to alkaline irrigation water and with grower inputs such as high levels of compost and/or fertilizer. We commonly see limited plant nutrient uptake due to high soil pH. We have produced four "Management Practices for Urban Soil Health" case studies sharing project updates in our urban cover crop, pH adjustment, and bulk density adjustment work. In each case study, we are looking at the effect of the management practice on soil and crop health.
Management Practices for Urban Soil Health: Cover CroppingManagement Practices for Urban Soil Health: pH AdjustmentManagement Practices for Urban Soil Health: pH Adjustment in NYCManagement Practices for Urban Soil Health: Correcting Nutrient Test Results for Soils with High Organic Matter2023 Year in Review and 2024 Preview
As the Cornell Vegetable Program reflects on 2023, we want to thank you for your partnership and continued support of our team and the work we do to address issues impacting the commercial vegetable industry in the western and central portion of NYS. Our 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Preview report highlights of some of the many research and outreach programs led by our team members over the last year plus a look ahead to some of our plans for 2024.
- Use of Ground Barriers as a New Strategy for Swede Midge in Brassicas for Small Organic and Urban Farms
- Cornell Vegetable Program Responds to Late Blight in 2023
- Working Groups Help to Improve the Western NY Food System
- Field Trials Completed to Test Lasers as a Bird Deterrent in Sweet Corn
- Increased Monitoring of Western Bean Cutworm in Dry Beans
- Sweet Potato Varieties Suitable for Western NY Production?