Summer Orchard Field Scouts
EMPLOYER: UMaine Cooperative Extension
Description:
2023 UMaine Cooperative Extension Apple Orchard Scouts
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has two full-time summer positions available for apple orchard scouts. Start date is mid-May or as soon as possible thereafter. The end date is late-August. We are somewhat flexible for both start and end dates, and can also accommodate if a scout needs a few days off during the May-August scouting period.
No academic or related work experience is required. Base pay is $14.15/hour plus other considerations. Scouts must have had a driver’s license for two years. The apple scout route is based at the UMaine Highmoor Farm Agricultural Research Station at 52 Route 202, Monmouth ME. Scouts can begin and end workdays at a Cooperative Extension office in southern or central Maine that is closer to their residence to reduce travel time to and from work. (There are offices in every Maine county.)
The scouts work as a pair in a 4-day 40-hour work week. Training, vehicle, and gas is provided to travel to orchards in a weekly route through central/southern Maine between Bangor and Sanford to inspect apple trees, check traps, and collect data on apple insect and disease pests.
Scouts report observations to growers and to their supervisor by email and enter data into Excel. The data are also used to produce a statewide email newsletter sent to over 500 subscribers to help apple growers make decisions regarding pest management. This has been a great job for college students since 1989, with many scouts liking it so much they came back for second and third years. Many have gone onto careers in agriculture, ag support services and/or graduate degrees in biological sciences. If there is interest, the summer work could also be used as a summer internship for class credit.
Please contact: Glen Koehler, Assoc. Scientist IPM, Univ. Maine Coop. Extension. glen.koehler@maine.edu Office: (207) 581-3882, Cell: (207) 485-0918