Forage Genetics International / Winfield Solutions, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, offers top-performing seed and crop protection products. With unmatched agricultural expertise and performance as core company values, WinField brands provide leading seed and crop protection products to help growers, dealers and other industry partners achieve high levels of success. Corn silage research is a core growth area that will expand and diversify WinField product offerings and solutions for the farmers we serve in partnership with dealers and industry collaborators.

• The senior research associate is responsible for the organization and execution of field and seed lab activities for corn silage breeding.
• The role will work in close partnership with the corn silage breeder and junior breeder and oversee and coordinate seasonal contract staff including execution of technical research activities as well as safety programs and company work policies.
• Research activities will include planning a calendarized work schedule, ground preparation, seed counting and packaging, research plot planting, research field management (irrigation, fertilization, pest-management, phyto-inspections), pollination, plot harvest, shelling, seed shipping (domestic and international), and seed inventory management.
• The senior research associate will contribute to establishing and refining operating procedures that support field and seed lab activities.
• Excellent opportunities for career growth and development both within the research organization as well as adjacent divisions involved in product deployment.

• Coordinate ground preparation activities with internal staff and external partners (lease agreements, tillage, in-ground drip, weed control, etc.)
• Oversee seed lab activities including inventory management, seed packaging, planting order layout and scanned verification, shipping (management of import/export documentation requirements domestic and international).
• Lead nursery research plot planting and management including irrigation, fertilization, rouging, detasseling, pest management, staking, tagging, field phyto-inspections.
• Lead nursery pollination and harvest including pollination training.
• Oversee nursery shelling and checking in of inventory and seed weights. Plan, hire and lead seasonal work crews to accomplish all activities.
• Coordinate closely with corn silage breeder to execute research plan.
• Lead strategic assessment and development of workflow processes in support of research plans.
• Actively influence research plan to align with best available workflow processes.
• Lead and design safety initiatives in partnership with Station Safety Lead that support a healthy and safe work environment for all staff involved in field and seed lab activities.