Job description: Position Summary The Sales Agronomist is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with agricultural producers while providing agronomic recommendations and selling crop inputs and related services. This position works closely with farmers, agronomy staff, custom applicators, suppliers, and location management to help customers improve crop production, profitability, and overall farm performance. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Sales and Customer Development Develop and maintain long-term relationships with farmers and agricultural customers. Sell fertilizer, seed, crop protection products, soil amendments, and related agricultural services. Develop new customer accounts and expand existing business. Make regular customer visits and on-farm sales calls. Identify customer needs and recommend appropriate products and services. Prepare sales proposals, quotes, and product recommendations. Meet established sales, margin, and profitability goals. Follow up with customers throughout the growing season. Provide professional and responsive customer service. Address customer questions, concerns, complaints, and product issues. Maintain accurate customer and sales records. Agronomic Consulting Provide practical agronomic recommendations based on soil, crop, weather, and field conditions. Review soil test results and help develop fertilizer and nutrient management recommendations. Assist customers with fertilizer, seed, and crop protection decisions. Recommend appropriate products, rates, timing, and application methods. Monitor crop conditions throughout the growing season. Assist with crop scouting and identify weeds, insects, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and other crop issues. Work with customers to develop strategies for improving crop yield and profitability. Stay current on new agricultural products, technologies, production practices, and industry trends. Field and Customer Support Conduct on farm visits and field assessments. Assist with customers' planting, fertility, crop protection, and application planning. Work with custom applicators to coordinate customer application needs. Communicate application requirements, field conditions, product information, and timing to the appropriate employees. Assist with resolving application or product related problems. Maintain accurate records of field visits, recommendations, products, and services. Support customers during planting, spraying, and harvest seasons. Product and Inventory Management Maintain a strong understanding of fertilizer, seed, crop protection products, and other agricultural inputs. Monitor product availability and communicate customer demand to location management. Assist with inventory planning and product ordering. Work with suppliers and manufacturers regarding product information, availability, pricing, and technical support. Help ensure products recommended to customers are appropriate for their crops and production systems. Sales Planning and Business Development Develop and execute individual sales plans. Establish sales goals and monitor progress throughout the year. Identify opportunities for increasing sales of products and services. Develop relationships with new and existing agricultural customers. Participate in customer meetings, field days, grower events, and agricultural meetings. Promote company services and products in a professional manner. Monitor local market conditions, competitor activity, and customer needs. Work with management to develop strategies for increasing market share and profitability. Teamwork and Communication Work closely with the Location Manager and other agronomy staff. Coordinate with custom applicators to ensure customers receive timely and accurate service. Communicate customer needs to operations and management. Work with suppliers and product representatives to obtain technical information and support. Share agronomic knowledge and information with coworkers. Participate in company training and professional development. Safety and Compliance Follow all company safety policies and procedures. Follow pesticide, fertilizer, environmental, and transportation regulations. Understand and communicate product label requirements. Maintain required pesticide applicator licenses and certificates. Promote safe handling and application of agricultural products. Properly use PPE when visiting application sites or handling agricultural products. Report spills, accidents, crop damage, or other safety and product issues promptly. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, Crop Science, or a related field preferred. Previous agronomy, agricultural sales, crop consulting, field development, or research experience preferred. Strong knowledge of crop production and agricultural practices. Understanding of soil fertility, crop nutrition, pest management, and crop protection products. Sales experience and demonstrated ability to develop customer relationships preferred. Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record. Ability to obtain and maintain applicable Minnesota pesticide applicator licensing/certification. Strong computer and recordkeeping skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational and time management skills. Ability to work independently and make sound agronomic recommendations. Strong customer service and problem solving skills. Ability to work effectively as part of a team. Physical Requirements Ability to regularly travel to farms and agricultural fields. Ability to enter and exit vehicles and agricultural equipment. Ability to walk fields and work outdoors for extended periods. Ability to lift up to approximately 60 pounds as needed. Ability to work in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, wind, and dust. Ability to work safely around agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, machinery, and farm equipment. Work Schedule This is a full-time position with seasonal variations in workload. During planting, spraying, and harvest seasons, extended hours, early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends may be necessary to meet customer needs and agricultural deadlines. Performance Expectations Success in this position will be measured by, Customer satisfaction and retention. Sales and gross margin performance. New customer development. Accuracy and quality of agronomic recommendations. Timely customer follow-up. Product and service knowledge. Customer service. Safety and regulatory compliance. Accurate recordkeeping. Teamwork and communication. Contribution to overall company profitability. Key Skills for Success Agronomic knowledge. Agricultural sales. Relationship building. Customer service. Crop scouting. Soil fertility and nutrient management. Crop protection knowledge. Communication. Negotiation. Problem solving. Time management. Organization. Business development. Attention to detail. Overall Objective The Sales Agronomist will serve as a trusted agricultural resource for customers by combining strong agronomic knowledge, excellent customer service, and effective sales skills . The position will help farmers make informed crop input decisions while growing sales, strengthening customer relationships, and contributing to the continued success and profitability of MilleLacs Soil Service Association.

Note:

This is a professionally constructed job description tailored to an agronomy sales position at an agricultural fertilizer/application business. It is not represented as the official Mille Lacs Soil Service Association employment posting.

Pay:

$30,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Work Location:

In person