About American Soybean Association

Job Summary

The ASA Agricultural Mechanization Specialist will be responsible for the 2014 soybean production mechanization outreach efforts in Balkh province, Afghanistan. The mechanization efforts in the following areas:
1. The development, use and adaptability of row and furrow markers pulled by pulled by hand and by oxen.
2. The training calibration and use of 2 soybean row planters to be placed with custom tillage operators.
3. The development, use and adaptability of various wheel hoe designs to be used for mechanical weed control in row soybeans.
4. The calibration of pack back sprayers for use of post-emergent soybean grass herbicides.
5. The use and maintenance of to be imported of soybean threshers and possible use and modification of wheat threshers that can be adapted for soybean threshing.
The ASA agricultural mechanization specialist will assist in the further development of existing oxen pulled row and furrow markers that are adaptable for both wheat and row crops. He will work with their testing in the field with farmers and coordinate their further design and modifications with Mazar-e-Sharif blacksmith shops where they are
The ASA agricultural mechanization specialist will be expected to assist ASA extension agronomists and managers in locating custom tillage operator in the districts where ASA will be planting soybeans. He will assess their existing tractors in use and assist in any modification required to enable that tractor to use successfully two row planters. He also will directly assist the custom planter operator to calibrate that planter to plant soybean seed at a consistent depth with proper in-row row spacing to establish optimum soybean plant populations.
The ASA agricultural mechanization specialist will assess the wheel hoes already developed that are in the market place. He will assess their farmer suitability and make necessary changes and modifications. He will test them for their practical use in the field. He will assist if necessary the Mazar-e-Sharif machine shop(s) to improve their field functionality based on his own assessment and farmer feedback in their manufacture.
The ASA agricultural mechanization specialist will assist ASA extension agronomists in the calibration of farmer backpack sprayers for accurate and enhanced application of post-emergence grass herbicides. He with an extension agronomist will demonstrate the twin nozzle wand for improved herbicide coverage and enhanced annual grass control versus the single nozzle wand presently being used. He will assist in any field days in the use of post-emergence grass herbicides.
The ASA agricultural mechanization specialist will work with the ASA soybean thresher program. He will assist in the identification of custom wheat thresher operators in each of the districts where ASA soybean are produced. He will then work with these custom harvest operators in the use and maintenance of specific soybean threshers to be purchased by ASA for Balkh province. Additionally he will work with existing wheat threshers available in the market and test the feasibility of their use for soybean threshing. He will test various machinery modifications as well as operational changes that might make the wheat threshers suitable for soybean harvest

Duties & Responsibilities

Assess oxen drawn row and furrow markers for mechanical suitability in conjunction with an assigned extension agronomist.

Assist directly with the selection of qualified Mazar-e-Sharif blacksmith shops for manufacture of the oxen drawn row and furrow marker.

Assess and evaluate wheel hoe design(s) for mechanical control of weeds in soybean rows.

Assist the selected blacksmith and/or machine shops in Mazar-e-Sharif in improving the wheel hoe functionality, design and manufacture as determined from field testing and farmer feedback.

Assist with the extension agronomists in the educational workshops discussing with farmers’ the value of planting cereal and row crops in rows for ease of weeding and increased crop yields.

Assist in the direct assessment of custom tillage operators in their interest in establishing a custom planter business.

Directly work with those same farmers at workshops on the need of proper land preparation required for proper two row planters’ use, and performance, as well as hand and oxen pulled row and furrow marker performance.

Assess their tractor suitability and use for two row planters.

Directly work with those selected tractor tillage custom operators on two row planter use, calibration for correct soybean seed planting rate and planter maintenance.

Work with the calibration of pack back sprayers for accurate post-emergent herbicides application according to the manufacture’s label.

Demonstrate the use of the twin nozzle wand for improved herbicide grass weed coverage and improved weed control.

Directly assist in the selection of custom wheat thresher operators and gauge their interest in establishing a custom soybean threshing business in those Balkh districts producing soybeans.

Directly assist these same operators on the soybean thresher value, use and maintenance of the soybean threshers.

Directly work with the use of the various wheat threshers in country to evaluate their use for soybean threshing and determine the mechanical changes as well as operational changes that would make selected wheat threshers suitable if possible or not possible for soybean threshing.

Job Requirements

The ASA Agricultural Mechanization Specialist must be self directing. He must be able to work effectively with farmers. He must be well organized and be able to prioritize and meet daily and weekly deadlines. He should have sound mechanical skills and ability to perform basic math calculations. He must be able to work in a team environment.

Submission Guideline

This position will open on 11 March 14 and will stay open until it is filled or 18 March 2014, whichever comes first. Interested candidates should submit their Resume with letter of interest to the following email address; vacancies.asa@gmail.com

Functional Area

Agriculture

Countries

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