Research Farm Assistant 2

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College; United States; On-site; USD 18,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College's Reproductive Biology Center invites applications for a Research Farm Assistant 2. This classified position supports routine care of animals and crops in a research setting, operating farm equipment, and maintaining facilities at the RBC-Embryo Biotech Lab in St.

Gabriel, LA. The role requires at least one year of experience in animal care or farm operations.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in the care of animals or the general care of crops, shrubs, or plants, or farm-related equipment operation.
• Experience with crops, shrubs, or plants and basic farm machinery operation.
• College credit in agricultural courses may substitute for experience as described.

Responsibilities

• Operate farm machinery and equipment to perform precise field production tasks such as chemical application, bed setup, and plot harvesting.
• Care for livestock including daily health checks, feeding, and monitoring.
• Perform adjustments and repairs on farm equipment and maintain records of feed and production.
• Assist in layout of research plots and perform related farming duties as assigned.

Job description

Research Farm Assistant 2

Position Type: Classified

Department: LSUAG PL1 - CRS - Reproductive Biology Center (Cobey Ross Hendry (00002076))

Work Location: RBC-Embryo Biotech Lab

Pay Grade: Classified Technician and Skilled Trades

Pay: WS206 $20,363 - $36,483

Creation Date: 06/29/1987

Change Date: 10/01/2022

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

Experienced.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

General from higher-level personnel.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None, although employees may assist and train lower level personnel.

LOCATION OF WORK

State Universities; Agricultural Research Facilities.

JOB DISTINCTIONS

Differs from a Research Farm assistant 1 by the presence of responsibilities which require knowledge of complex farming practices and by requirements for skilled equipment operation to perform complex tasks.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Operates complex farm machinery/equipment to perform exacting field production techniques, i.e. chemical application, close cultivation, setting up beds, plot harvesting, etc.
• Cares for livestock including: mixing and administering feed, transporting, administering medication, checking health, breeding, and milking cows.
• Makes adjustments and repairs to farm equipment.
• Keeps simple records on feed mix ingredients, consumption, produce mortality, seed, and other farming operations.
• Learns to lay out research plots.
• Performs comparable farming tasks in other agricultural research areas such as forestry, aquaculture, agricultural engineering, etc.
• Performs related tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of experience in the care of animals; the general care of crops, shrubs, or plants; or farm-related equipment and machinery operation.

SUBSTITUTIONS

College credit in agricultural courses will substitute for the required experience on the basis of one semester hour for two months of experience.

NOTE

Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Special Instructions

Location: Reproductive Biology Center, St. Gabriel, LA

Minimum Requirements

One year of experience in the care of animals; the general care of crops, shrubs, or plants; or farm-related equipment and machinery operation. For more information and Substitutions contact www.civilservice.louisiana.gov or the AgCenter HRM office.

Job Duties

• Operates farm machinery equipment such as tractors, lawnmowers, batwing rotary cutters, disk and cultipacker, hay cutters, hay rake, seed broadcaster, and equipment for chemical applications. (40%)
• Care of livestock including: daily health checks, pen maintenance, assist in deworming protocols, rotational grazing, putting out hay, feeding and recording daily health and observation log. (20%)
• Maintains property and fences. Spraying of fence line weeds, upkeep of hard fence and hotwire fence, repairs to damaged gates and fences, building of new enclosures on property, maintenance to drainage ditches on property, mowing of pastures and lawns around shop and buildings. (20%)
• Makes adjustments and repairs to farm equipment, lawn mowers, ATVs, and tractors (10%)
• Assists with maintenance of shop area, shade structures and main building. (5%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Compensation

Minimum - $13.11/hour; 1st Quartile - $15.73/hour; Midpoint - $18.35/hour; 3rd Quartile - $20.97/hour, and Maximum - $23.59/hour.

No testing required.

Application Deadline: 11/15/2026 or until suitable candidate is identified.

The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Posting Date: November 2, 2026

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified): November 16, 2026

Additional Position Information

Background Check - An offer of employment is