Retail Agronomy Intern - AgVantage FS - Garner, IA

AgVantage FS; Garner (IA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

AgVantage FS in Iowa offers an Agronomy Intern role focused on field inspections, crop health monitoring, and hands-on agronomy experience. You will gain exposure to field research, equipment operation, and customer interaction while supporting agronomy specialists and local teams.

The internship emphasizes learning through training, safety, and collaboration with experienced professionals in a cooperative environment within the GROWMARK System.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; basic knowledge of production agriculture.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record; ability to travel.
• Occasionally exposed to extreme weather; able to lift 51–70 pounds.
• Able to walk crop fields and conduct visual crop inspections.
• Willingness to participate in required training.

Responsibilities

• Operate field research and crop monitoring equipment.
• Assist with facility and equipment maintenance and repair.
• Visit AgVantage FS locations and customers to build professional relationships.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Customer focus

Decision making

Skill development

Education

Pursuing degree in Agriculture

Tools

GPS technology

IPM techniques

Field research equipment

Job description

AgVantage FS is headquartered in Waverly, Iowa with branches in Northern and Eastern Iowa. AgVantage FS has about 400 employees (including seasonal workers) and approximately 23,000 customers. The cooperative does business in agronomy, energy, precision agronomy, and agri-finance. AgVantage FS is part of the GROWMARK System, an agricultural cooperative serving more than 100,000 customers across North America and Ontario, Canada.

Purpose And Summary Statement

Performs regular inspections of customer crop fields to monitor crop health and ongoing conditions and assists with general agronomy functions. Provides inspection reports and customer service in a timely and accurate manner to increase customer satisfaction and maintain the reputation and profitability of the organization.

Essential Job Functions

• Hands on-on experience in agronomy field and operations
• Assist with facility and equipment maintenance and repair
• Drives company vehicle to designated customer crop field locations.
• Inspects fields using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques and GPS technology to identify weeds, insects, diseases, and other yield limiting threats.
• Documents and/or photographs all findings, completes inspection reports, and provides reports to agronomy specialist and customers.
• Discusses results with both the agronomy specialist and customers to answer additional questions and add value to the service.
• Attends scheduled technical training sessions and meetings
• Assists with additional agricultural retail operational duties as time allows

Performs all other duties as assigned.

Other Job Functions

• Supports and contributes to total company goals and objectives through collaboration efforts.
• Responsible for operating and maintaining the assigned vehicle according to company standards, adheres to the uniform policy, and maintains the appropriate professional image.
• Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Normally requires a high school diploma or the equivalent thereof and possess a basic understanding of production agriculture.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, a satisfactory driving record, and the ability to travel independently as needed.
• Occasionally exposed or required to work in extreme weather conditions. (hot, cold, wet, etc.)
• Frequently required to lift 51-70 pounds as needed
• Must be able to walk crop fields and conduct visual inspections of crops.
• Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK’s policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.

What You’ll Be Doing

If you enjoy being outside and are interested in gaining hands-on Agronomy experience, then we can’t wait to talk to you! We are looking for an Agronomy Intern that is eager to go above and beyond helping our customers. A few key areas of emphasis include:

• Operate field research and crop monitoring equipment and technology for scouting.
• Assist with facility and equipment maintenance and repair.
• Visit FS locations and customers building professional relationships.

What You Bring To The Table

• You are pursuing a degree in Agriculture.
• You are in good academic standing

What We Bring To The Table

• We value relationships and people first and foremost
• We are a company that gives back to the community
• We emphasize sustainability practices and stewardship of our resources
• We enjoy access to in-house training and leadership development opportunities

We are an equal opportunity/Disabled/Protected Veteran Employer. All individuals, regardless of demographic or other background, are encouraged to apply. Further, as a federal, state, and local contractor, we comply with government regulations and executive orders as applicable, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with disability and protected veterans.

Employment is contingent on, among other things, receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.