State of Maryland

An Agronomist I, Turf and Seed is the intermediate level of agronomic regulatory work.  The work of this classification involves applying standards as defined in laws and regulations and assisting farmers, seed dealers and sod producers with development of a superior product.  Employees may be assigned primary responsibility for one or more segments of Turf and Seed activities, such as seed inspection, seed certification, supervised seed mixing, sod certification or sod law.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.  

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from higher level administrators.  Employees in this classification may be subject to overtime based on staffing needs.  Employees may be required to travel to seed companies, seed farms, and sod farms statewide.  The work may require the use of gloves and dust masks.  The duties may require working outdoors in varying weather conditions.    

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.   

The Agronomist Trainee, Turf and Seed, Agronomist I, Turf and Seed, and Agronomist II, Turf and Seed are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Agronomist Trainee, Turf and Seed learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Agronomist I, Turf and Seed performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Agronomist II, Turf and Seed performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Conducts supervised seed mixing activities;

Inspects seed fields for varietal purity, isolation and freedom from disease, insect
damage and crop and weed contaminants;

Inspects harvesting, seed handling and cleaning equipment for freedom from other
varietal and crop contaminants;

Conducts bin inspections and draws seed samples for laboratory analysis;

Conducts pre and post-seeding inspections of turf grass sod production fields;

Approves or disapproves sod fields for sale as “certified” sod;

Reviews seed analysis reports and advises on proper disposition of seed lots;

Advises growers, dealers and consumers concerning production, sale and use of turf and seed;

Prepares materials promoting quality turf and seed;

Prepares necessary reports;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of basic agronomic principles and practices;

Knowledge of plant disease and insect problems relevant to seed and sod quality;

Ability to learn and apply laws and regulations concerning seed and sod production, sale and distribution;

Ability to effectively organize work assignments;

Ability to establish and maintain harmonious work relationships with others.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least 24 semester credit hours in one or more of the following; agriculture, agronomy, botany, crops, horticulture, plant pathology, or soils.

Experience: One year of experience in agronomic, horticultural, seed or sod work.

Notes: 

1. A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in agriculture, agronomy, botany, crops, horticulture, plant pathology or soils may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in soil science classifications or soil science specialty codes in the soil science field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professional classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.