Research Farm Assistant 1

Louisiana State University; United States; On-site; USD 24,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Medical insurance options

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Long-term disability

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Employee Assistance Program

Educational tuition exemption

Job summary

Louisiana State University seeks a Research Farm Assistant 1 to provide routine care and maintenance of animals, crops, equipment, and facilities in a research environment. This entry-level role operates under supervision and performs semi-skilled farming tasks as described.

Responsibilities include operating simple equipment, caring for livestock and plants, and assisting with field activities across the Northeast and Macon Ridge stations in Louisiana. Background checks are required before hire.

Qualifications

• No experience or training is required.
• Background check: pre-employment background check is required.

Responsibilities

• Cares for livestock including feeding, assisting with breeding and medication administration.
• Operates, cleans, and makes simple adjustments to equipment.
• Disks, prepares land, cultivates and assists with planting and harvesting crops.
• Cares for plants and trees using hand tools or farming equipment.
• Keeps simple records on feed, consumption, production and mortality.

Skills

No experience required

Job description

Job Title

Research Farm Assistant 1

Position Type

Classified

Department

LSUAG PL4 - Northeast Region (Melissa D Cater (00002478))

Work Location

Northeast Office Building

Pay Grade

Classified Technician and Skilled Trades

Pay Range

$23,816 - $42,869

Creation Date

06/29/1987

Change Date

04/10/2014

Description

Function of Work: To provide specialized routine repetitive care and maintenance of animals, crops, equipment, and facilities in a research/experimental environment.

Level of Work: Entry

Supervision Received: Close from higher level personnel.

Supervision Exercised: None.

Job Distinctions: Differs from Laborer–Farming by requirements for performing semi-skilled farming tasks and dealing with experimental crops and animals. Differs from Research farm Assistant 2 by lack of skill in equipment operation and lack of knowledge of complex farming practices.

Core Competencies: CORE COMPETENCIES HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED BY STATE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THIS JOB TITLE. MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCS COMPETENCY MODEL CAN BE FOUND HERE.

Duties

• Cares for livestock including: feeding, assisting with breeding and administering medication, routine milking of cows, and checking for security of animals.
• Operates, cleans, and makes simple adjustments to equipment.
• Operates tractors and other equipment to disk, prepare land, cultivate; learns to use equipment to plant, fertilize, irrigate, apply chemicals, and harvest crops.
• Cares for plants and trees, from specific instructions by hand or using farming equipment.
• Mixes and sterilizes soil and pots, germinates and transplants seed, assists with pollination; collects and labels seed.
• Learns to keep simple records on feed mix, consumption, produce, mortality, etc.
• Performs comparable farming tasks in other agricultural research areas such as forestry, aquaculture, agricultural engineering, etc.
• Performs related tasks as assigned.
• Maintains grounds and other places around the Northeast, Macon Ridge, and Sweet Potato Research Stations. Uses mowers and other farm implements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: No experience or training is required.

Additional Job Description Competencies: None

Minimum Requirements: No experience or training is required.

Background Check: An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits

• retirement
• multiple medical insurance options
• supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.)
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some childcare and medical expenses)
• university holidays (14 per year)
• generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System

Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

Locations

Northeast Research Station, St. Joseph, LA and Macon Ridge Research Station, Winnsboro, LA.

Application Deadline: 9/14/2026

Closing Date: September 15, 2026

The LSU Agricultural Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.