Agronomy Specialist
Del Monte Fresh Produce Company Na Inc
Plover, Wisconsin
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable fruits and vegetables under our Fresh and Foods divisions. Our diverse product portfolio proudly bears the Del Monte® brand and also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts - available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.
Benefits We Offer Include:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Employer-paid life & disability insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 7 Company Paid Holidays
- 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
- Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
- Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date
Purpose of Position:
Del Monte Foods is the Foods Division of Fresh Del Monte, a global grower, producer and marketer of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable produce. Del Monte Foods has a powerful portfolio of brands, including the iconic Del Monte®, Contadina® and S&W®. We are currently seeking an Agronomy Specialist.
The Agronomy Specialist is responsible for supporting agronomic research, field trials, variety evaluation, greenhouse activities, and crop development programs for the Plover facility and Midwest production areas. This role supports bean, pea, sweet corn, carrot, beet, and potato research activities through field data collection, crop monitoring, variety evaluation, greenhouse support, and coordination of research trials.
The Agronomy Specialist works closely with agronomy leadership, field representatives, growers, universities, production teams, and research partners to support crop performance, variety advancement, and agronomic best practices. This role assists with planning, conducting, and evaluating field trials while supporting breeding programs, seed increases, greenhouse activities, and crop research efforts.
This position is intended to be a more hands-on agronomy role with a strong emphasis on field work, trial coordination, data collection, crop evaluation, and operational support rather than a highly technical research-focused position.
Accountabilities:
Agronomic Research and Field Trials
- Support planning, setup, monitoring, and evaluation of agronomic research trials across Wisconsin and other Midwest production areas.
- Conduct field trials involving beans, peas, sweet corn, carrots, beets, potatoes, and other vegetable crops.
- Assist with machine harvest and hand-harvest yield plots, herbicide trials, seed treatment trials, pesticide trials, nitrogen studies, and other agronomic research projects.
- Collect, organize, and summarize field data related to crop performance, yield, quality, maturity, disease pressure, and environmental conditions.
- Assist with variety evaluation trials and compare performance of commercial and experimental crop varieties.
- Monitor field conditions and identify crop issues related to pests, disease, weed pressure, fertility, irrigation, weather, and field performance.
- Coordinate trial activities with field representatives, growers, contractors, and other agronomy team members.
- Travel to production areas during the growing season to support field visits, crop evaluations, and research activities.
Variety Development and Crop Evaluation
- Support short row, strip trial, and breeder trial activities for new and existing crop varieties.
- Assist with trial seed procurement, planting coordination, crop evaluations, harvest planning, and data review.
- Participate in development of summaries and recommendations for new crop varieties based on trial results and field performance.
- Assist with evaluation of bean, pea, sweet corn, carrot, beet, and potato varieties across different growing conditions and production regions.
- Support outside variety evaluation programs and help identify varieties that may benefit Del Monte operations.
- Maintain trial records, field notes, planting maps, and harvest summaries.
Greenhouse and Breeding Program Support
- Support greenhouse activities related to bean breeding, seed increases, and crop development programs.
- Assist with bean crossing activities, seed harvesting, seed tracking, and early-generation breeding support.
- Support maintenance of breeding program records, seed inventories, plot books, and agronomy databases.
- Assist with Wisconsin bean breeding nursery activities including observation plots, disease screening, and crop evaluations.
- Help maintain accurate seed inventories, breeding records, and research documentation.
Field Operations and Equipment Support
- Operate farm equipment, plot equipment, irrigation systems, sprayers, tractors, and greenhouse systems as needed.
- Assist with planting, harvesting, irrigation, greenhouse maintenance, and plot preparation activities.
- Support upkeep of research plots, greenhouse areas, equipment, and agronomy workspaces.
- Follow safe operating procedures for equipment, chemicals, pesticides, and field activities.
- Assist with maintaining trial supplies, seed inventories, research equipment, and field records.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with agronomy leadership, university personnel, growers, field representatives, and production teams to support agronomic research and crop improvement initiatives.
- Participate in team meetings, planning discussions, crop reviews, and agronomy updates.
- Maintain awareness of new crop issues, industry trends, research findings, and agronomic best practices.
- Communicate trial results, field observations, and crop concerns clearly to agronomy leadership and other stakeholders.
- Assist with special projects, reports, and additional agronomy-related activities as needed.
Minimum Skills Required:
- Associate degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, Crop Science, Plant Science, Agricultural Business, or a related field required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Agricultural Science, Plant Science, or a related field.
- Minimum of 1–3 years of agronomy, field research, farming, greenhouse, or crop production experience required.
- Previous agricultural, scouting, farming, field research, or crop monitoring experience preferred.
- Previous experience with field trials, crop monitoring, planting, harvesting, or variety evaluation.
- Experience operating farm equipment, tractors, sprayers, irrigation systems, or plot equipment.
- Experience supporting breeding programs, greenhouse operations, or seed increase activities.
- Knowledge of basic statistics, field plot design, and agronomic data collection.
- Familiarity with irrigation systems, pest management, greenhouse operations, and agricultural best practices.
- Experience with GPS mapping, agronomy software, data collection systems, or agricultural technology.
- Commercial pesticide applicator license or ability to obtain one.
- Basic knowledge of agronomic practices, crop production, pest management, irrigation, soil conditions, and plant health.
- Ability to collect, organize, and summarize field and trial data accurately.
- Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities during the growing season.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Willingness to travel to production areas and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
- Ability to perform physical work including standing, walking fields, lifting, bending, and operating equipment.
***Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses.***
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and fresh cut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts—available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.
We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values - Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity - we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.
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| Category | Agronomy |
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