Agricultural Assistant I – Crop Management & Equipment Operations

About the role

The Agricultural Assistant I supports faculty‑led research projects by managing crop production, operating farm equipment, and ensuring compliance with pesticide and fertilizer regulations. This hands‑on role involves daily field work, equipment maintenance, and accurate record‑keeping in a research‑focused agricultural environment.

Key responsibilities

• Apply fertilizers, pesticides, and disease‑control treatments according to crop management recommendations and research protocols.
• Calibrate and safely operate pesticide sprayers, fertilizer applicators, and a wide range of farm machinery (tractors, plows, seed drills, planters, cultivators, mowers, etc.).
• Perform routine equipment maintenance, cleaning, lubrication, and visual inspections; report any malfunctions.
• Assist with crop establishment tasks such as plowing, bed formation, planting, transplanting, and irrigation setup.
• Manage irrigation systems, implement schedules, perform minor repairs, and maintain activity logs.
• Maintain electronic records of all pesticide and fertilizer applications in compliance with EPA, FDACS, OSHA, and UF/IFAS requirements.

Required profile

• No formal minimum qualifications required.
• Ability to follow safety protocols and regulatory guidelines for chemical handling.
• Willingness to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Strong attention to detail for accurate record‑keeping.

Required skills

• Farm machinery operation (tractors, plows, seed drills, planters, cultivators, sprayers, mowers, etc.)
• Pesticide and fertilizer application
• Irrigation system management
• Equipment maintenance and basic repairs
• Electronic record‑keeping for chemical applications