Summer Job Opportunity
Summer 2023
APPLICATION: Summer Field Scout Employment Form
POSITION: Summer Field Crop Scout EMPLOYER: Texas Pest Management Association
WORK AREA: Hale & Swisher County, Texas (Plainview & Tulia area)
EMPLOYMENT PERIOD: Should begin around May with planting season and end around harvest in Fall. Employees returning to college or high school may discuss a 20-hour per week or weekend work schedule once classes resume in the fall.
WAGES: Experienced based, but $8.00 per hour for first year/inexperienced employees with rapid merit based potential for raises. By mid-season, pay rate for valued scouts is typically $10.00 per hour.
BONUS: Field Scouts completing the full season employment period will be eligible for a bonus of an additional $0.50 per hour based on the total hours worked during the summer.
TRANSPORTATION: Employees will be required to report to Plainview office daily. Field Scouts will use their personal vehicle to drive to farms, field turn rows, and research plots as needed. Daily travel allotments and/or mileage will be paid for use of Scout’s vehicle at the rate of $0.56 per mile. Scouts typically work in pairs; therefore, each Scout could drive as often as every other day, 5-7 days per week.
QUALIFICATONS: Applicants need good observation, listening, and writing skills. A working knowledge of basic mathmatics is essential to estimating insect populations. Proof of driver’s license and liability insurance is required. College students seeking an agricultural degree or those with some agricultural experience are preferred.
DUTIES: Scouts will be responsible for inspecting field crops for pest and beneficial insects, weeds, crop status, and plant disease problems. Data entry is electronic with reports made on each field scouted and distributed to participating growers. All Scouts will receive training on insect, weed, and plant disease identification and scouting procedures. Data collection will be done on a weekly basis of various Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research projects. Duties may include handling, mixing, and applying of pesticides and herbicides under supervision of licensed IPM Agent.
CONTACT FOR APPLICATION:
Blayne Reed, Extension Agent – IPM, Hale & Swisher County
225 Broadway, Suite 6, Plainview, TX 79072
Office: 806-291-5267
blayne.reed@ag.tamu.edu
**Employment by TPMA is open to all citizens regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity.**
