A Food or Agricultural Technician assists agricultural and food scientists with research and testing related to safety and quality control. May focus on testing and lab analysis for animal crops and animal feed, or focus on testing and lab analysis for food, food crops, processed food, food additives and food containers.
$19-$22/hour DOE (potential to be higher). Most new hires begin around $19-$20/hour, depending on experience.
Schedule:
Day shift. Seasonal 2nd-shift coverage in the fall (Oct-Nov) is preferred but flexible; strong day-only candidates will still be considered.
Target Start:
Fill by September 1 (sooner preferred). Summer training available to ramp up before peak season. A day in the life You step into the packaging room, power up the HMI, and bring the automated paper-bag filling machine online. A quick check confirms the correct lot, label, and setpoints. As conditioned seed corn flows in, you tune fill weights, watch bag quality, and keep an eye on the conveyor. If a jam happens, you clear it quickly and safely, then get the line humming again. Every hour, you verify weights and seals, reject anything that's off-spec, and document your checks so only quality product ships. You keep the room organized and dust under control, wearing provided PPE. When the upstream team needs a hand or the warehouse calls, you jump in to keep product moving. During peak fall weeks, you may rotate to cover an evening run—helping the team hit goals when demand spikes. What you'll do Run the automated packaging line, including the paper-bag filler for 50 lb seed corn bags. Use computer controls to start, monitor, and adjust equipment. Maintain fill weight, labeling, seal integrity, and product flow; clear jams and make real-time corrections. Uphold quality standards—identify, correct, and document issues before product ships. Keep the packaging room clean, organized, and safe; follow all safety and PPE requirements (dust masks/PPE provided). Support upstream/downstream tasks and cover seasonal 2nd shift during fall as needed. What you bring High school diploma or GED. Comfort using computer-based machine controls; prior automated packaging experience is a plus. Ability to lift at least 60 lbs and perform repetitive material handling.
Best-fit background:
packaging experience at a seed company; next best: automated packaging in any industry. Agriculture exposure is a plus; reliability, strong attendance, and willingness to learn are highly valued. Comfort working around seed dust and pollen (PPE provided). Physical demands & work environment Seed production plant / packaging room with standing, repetitive handling, and lifting of 60 lbs minimum. Exposure to dust and pollen; dust masks and PPE provided. Day shift role with seasonal 2nd-shift coverage during the fall. Compensation & benefits $19-$22/hour depending on experience (potential to be higher). Many new hires start between $19-$20/hour DOE. Health, dental, disability, and 401(k). $150 annual clothing allowance. Paid company team-building/outing days. Seasonal overtime available during peak production. Full benefit details shared with qualified candidates during screening.
