Agronomy Corn Nursery Intern

About this Job:  

We invite you to help us shape the future of agriculture. At Syngenta, we believe every employee has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. To support that challenge, the Parent Seed Production team is currently seeking an Agronomy Corn Nursery intern in Slater, IA. As an intern you will be introduced to parent seed production operations. Gain experience by taking responsibility of selected field production operations in support of producing a reliable supply of high-quality seed.  The intern will take on several roles based upon field production practices, plant processing requirements and distribution needs. 

As an intern at Syngenta, you have the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry, and work on real projects finding real solutions. Work with us and you’ll get:  

• Competitive wages  
• Ongoing career development resources   
• The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems 
• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and offers flexible work options to meet both your work and personal needs 

Estimated Duration: May 2023- August 2023 

You will: 

• Work with planting crews to plant corn nurseries and parent seed fields 
• Perform phenotypic evaluations prior to, during and after pollination 
• Scout nurseries to implement integrated pest management (IPM) and irrigation management program 
• Perform hand pollinations  
• Gain leadership skills by supervising seasonal labor during pollination 
• Perform yield estimates 
• Receive exposure to harvest operations  
• Learn about seed inventory management 
• Work with and learn about plant and field Health, Safety, Environmental and Security (HSE&S) topics 
• Support Line Maintenance Technicians in nursery related activities as directed at the Slater, Iowa production site 
• Participate in accurate and timely crop scouting and data collection of emergence and vegetative growth stages, silk and pollen shed notes, stand counts, and IPM scouting thresholds 
• Perform activities related to planting, scouting, weed and insect management, rouging, pollinating, safety, training, and reporting at the site 
• Gain insight into the activities involved with Seeds Research and Production 
• Perform a project to study a potential production improvement.  Perform other duties as required to meet manager or plant needs 

What you must have: 

• A High School Diploma or equivalent 
• Enrollment in a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, Ag Business, or another closely related agricultural field of study 
• Fluent in English 

What you might also contribute to the team: 

• Prefer a student with a Freshman, Sophomore or Junior standing  
• Excellent communication skills to work well with co-workers on plant tasks  
• Good writing and math skills 
• Independent, self-motivating, need little supervision 
• The ability to communicate information (written and spoken) is highly desired in this position 
• Trusted - Will need to make good sound judgment calls in regard to seed quality management that will be for the best interest of the company 
• Excellent computer skills including proficiencies in both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word 
• Innovative - To always look to implement new procedures or technologies to improve work efficiencies  
• Detail/Accuracy Oriented - All procedures and policies must be understood and followed. Data entry into data management systems must be accurate due to decisions being made by other departments based on the information given 
• Ability to perform basic math functions 

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Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)  

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Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) 

(http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/firststep/poster_direct.htm) 

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) 

(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppa.htm) 

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs. Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions. Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.