Crop Scout Intern

Description

Greene Crop Consulting is an independent company based in Franklin, Indiana. We serve farms across central Indiana with zone-based fertility recommendations. Offerings include soil & tissue testing with interpretation, agronomy, troubleshooting, scouting, UAV aerial imagery, production research and crop insurance. We have helped our customers grow for 20 years. The Crop Scout Intern Position is a paid temporary, intern position for the Summer of 2027.

Position Summary: Regular scouting of customer crop fields to monitor crop health and ongoing conditions. Provides reports and customer service in a timely manner to support management decisions and maximize customer profit margin

Responsibilities

The Crop Scout's main focus will be scouting fields to monitor crop health and ongoing field conditions. With the assistance of an agronomist, the intern will communicate directly to farmers across Central Indiana with detailed field reports, pictures and drone imagery.  This will allow the intern the exposure to different types of farmers, farm operations and agronomy retailers across central Indiana. The intern will maintain a customer relations database and communicate frequently with the lead agronomist on status of the scouting project. In addition to scouting, the intern will work directly with our Agronomy Department learning about soil sampling, soil fertility, fertilizer recommendations and trouble-shooting problem areas identified in fields. A requirement of the job is the intern will  obtain a UAV License to fly a drone and obtain aerial imagery of the fields being scouted. Other learning opportunities with Greene Crop include Crop Insurance and Pay Dirt- a program that works with farmers data to determine the agronomics vs. economics of each field. The intern would be required to attend weekly team meetings to communicate what is being seen in the fields and to learn updates from each department within the business. Each of these activities will allow the intern to grow in developing excellent communication skills, networking, relationships, self-confidence and leadership skills.  This position reports directly to an Agronomist within the Greene Crop team who will assist and mentor them throughout the scouting season.  Greene Crop will pay for the intern to attend a one day Crop Scouting Class offered by Purdue University.  Drone training and mentoring will be provided and supervised by a licensed UAV agronomist within our team.  Key responsibilities will be to fly fields with company UAV to gather imagery and identify areas for scouting, inspect assigned grower fields to identify weeds, insects, diseases, pest and crop population counts, crop and weed staging and other yield limiting threats, utilize crop scouting software/weekly reports to document, photograph and share observations with staff agronomists and customer. Other duties include keeping current on agronomic products, trends, and precision ag technologies and provide support for Agronomist as needed.

Qualifications

• Possess a UAV Pilot License by starting date.
• Pursuing an Associates or Bachelors degree, in an agricultural related major
• Attentive to detail and able to work without direct supervision.
• Able to prioritize mulitple projects
• Excellent Time management skills
• Priority in Customer service mindset
• Frequently move, lift and carry 50-60 lbs.
• Potential exposure to extreme weather conditions.
• Must be able to walk crop fields and conduct visual inspections of crops.
• Ability to work extended hours during peak busy seasons.
• Possess a valid, unrestricted drivers license
• Ability to back in a trailer
• Requires excellent communication skills and work collaborative with team

Learning Objectives

1. Develop Crop Scouting and Diagnostic Skills- Learn to systematically scout corn and soybean fields and identify common weeds, insects, diseases, crop development stages, plant populations, and other conditions that may limit crop health and yield.
2. Apply Agronomic Knowledge in the Field- Connect classroom agronomy concepts to real-world farming situations by evaluating crop and field conditions and working alongside experienced agronomists to identify and troubleshoot problem areas.
3. Gain Knowledge of Soil Fertility and Soil Sampling- Develop an understanding of proper soil sampling procedures, soil fertility principles, soil test results, and how agronomists use this information to develop fertilizer recommendations.
4. Develop Precision Agriculture and UAV Skills- Obtain a UAV license and learn to safely operate a drone for agricultural applications. Gain experience collecting and interpreting aerial imagery to identify areas of concern and assist in directing field scouting activities.
5. Develop Agricultural Data Collection and Reporting Skills- Learn to accurately document field observations using crop scouting software, photographs, drone imagery, field reports, and customer relationship management tools. Understand the importance of accurate and timely agricultural data.
6. Strengthen Grower Communication and Customer Relations Skills-Develop professional communication skills through interaction with farmers, agronomists, agricultural retailers, and other industry professionals. Learn how to clearly communicate field observations and agronomic information to customers.

Contact Information