Assistant Professor, Forage Extension Agronomist

Position Overview:
Agriculture faces numerous challenges as the global human population grows and environmental pressures on agriculture intensify. To address these challenges, agricultural practices must be intensified while reducing our environmental footprint. Expanding the use of perennial crops, increasing continuous cover systems, reintegrating livestock agriculture into our landscapes, and exploring novel value-added biomass and protein sources will be essential to meeting global demands. Forage crops, such as alfalfa, play a vital role in this transformation by providing ecosystem services, enhancing landscape diversity, and supporting livestock production. The Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics is committed to increasing perennial acreage, including both agronomically managed feedstock production and management-intensive rotational grazing systems. The department seeks a Forage Extension Agronomist to lead research and extension efforts focused on improving agronomic practices that support Minnesota's dairy and beef operations, while contributing to the economic and environmental resilience, sustainability, and food security of the state and beyond.

This position is a full-time, nine-month (academic year) tenure-track appointment with extension (60%) and research (40%) responsibilities. Alfalfa production in Minnesota spans 700,000 acres, with total hay acreage reaching 1.3 million acres, and the state has approximately 4.6 million acres of pastureland. This position will focus on alfalfa and the integration of forages, perennial crops, and managed pastures into Minnesota's cropping systems to support livestock, enhance crop diversity, control pests, improve soil and water quality, and boost nutrient cycling - all while maintaining profitability for producers. This position will assist farmers to produce alfalfa and forage mixtures across Minnesota's varying environments and agricultural systems, while addressing short- and long-term risks and resiliencies.

Close collaboration with animal and food scientists, crop breeders and geneticists, entomologists, plant pathologists and other plant scientists, economists, environmental scientists, and soil scientists will be essential in addressing challenges related to cropping systems diversification and ecological services, while ensuring the economic sustainability of agricultural landscapes. External constituents include producers and producer groups (including the Midwest Forage Association), government agencies, and industry partners. Funding for the position may come from many sources, including USDA , commodity groups, industry, NRC-SARE, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Forever Green Initiative, and the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance.

Responsibilities:
The Assistant Professor, Forage Extension Agronomist position will be expected to develop an independent, externally funded, and widely recognized Extension and research program at the state, regional, national, and international levels while collaborating with others. The extension and research efforts must be closely integrated, with both components working to advance scientific understanding while directly benefiting Minnesota's farmers and agricultural stakeholders. Research will be highly interdisciplinary, with possible collaborations in animal and food sciences, applied economics, biosystems agricultural engineering, and other plant, soil, and environmental science departments. The candidate will be expected to lead and contribute to cooperative research projects focused on alfalfa and other forage-based systems, with strong engagement in multistate and international collaborations. Additionally, the candidate will mentor and advise graduate and undergraduate students, fostering a collaborative environment to promote student, post-doctoral, and professional development.

Extension efforts will be centered on locally generated and translated research-based knowledge, aimed at supporting Minnesota farmers and strengthening agricultural practices. The candidate will be expected to build and sustain impactful forage and crop extension programs that directly address the needs of agricultural producers. They will develop, contribute to and deliver effective extension programming to key agricultural stakeholders, such as farmers, consultants, agronomists, and agency staff, and the public. The successful candidate will be an active member of the interdisciplinary University of Minnesota Extension Forage, Livestock, and Crops Teams, as well as the Institute for Agricultural Professionals. Collaborative extension projects are encouraged with Department faculty and colleagues throughout University of Minnesota Extension, including campus-based Extension specialists, field-based Extension Educators, and Extension/Research colleagues at Research and Outreach Centers in the state. This position will also contribute to the outreach and service functions of the department, college, university, and relevant professional societies.

The University of Minnesota is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and inclusive excellence of the academic community through their teaching/extension, service, and research, scholarship, or creative arts.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in relevant discipline
• Proven ability to conduct innovative field-based research in a relevant discipline
• A publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other researchers
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience developing communication strategies to meet the needs of various target audiences

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in developing and delivering Extension programs focused on forage, crop management, or related areas.
• Experience in research fields including forage agronomy and production systems.
• Grant writing experience
• Demonstrated mentoring experience at the university-level
• Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, including crop breeders, animal scientists, environmental scientists, and others.

The Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics has 25 faculty members with strength in breeding, genetics/genomics, biotechnology, agronomy/agroecology, weed science and crop physiology. Faculty research programs are focused on improvement of traditional and emerging crops and developing agronomic practices for crops that are of key importance to agriculture in the upper Midwest. Faculty in the department are members of the Applied Plant Science, and Plant and Microbial Biology graduate programs. The faculty teach in the Plant Science, and Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture interdepartmental undergraduate programs.

College Overview:
The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is composed of 13 academic departments, 10 research and outreach centers across Minnesota, plus the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers that span the college, the university, and the globe. CFANS offers thirteen undergraduate majors and thirteen graduate majors, three pre-major/pre-professional programs and 23 minors for undergraduate students. Undergraduate enrollment in the college is about 2000 students. CFANS students are well-prepared for a diverse, multicultural workforce through the college's emphasis on experiential, interdisciplinary, and intercultural learning; internships and global perspectives.

At CFANS, we aim to inspire minds, nourish people, and enhance the natural environment, and we believe that's only possible if everyone feels seen, heard and respected. Our College embraces equity and diversity and prioritizes purpose-driven scientific discovery in order for us to build a better tomorrow, together. We align with the University of Minnesota in providing equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Pay Range: $93,000 - $97,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience
Time Appointment: 100% time, 9-month appointment
Position Type: Faculty (tenure-track), Assistant Professor (#9403)

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility. The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages and paid holidays
• Competitive start-up package (faculty positions)
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online http://employment.umn.edu/ (search for Job Opening ID # 366857). Candidates should include all of the required application materials combined into one single PDF document. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Submit applications by April 28th.

Required application materials:
Please submit the following as ONE PDF document:

• Curriculum Vitae
• 1 -2 page Research Statement
• 1 -2 page Extension Statement

~ both Research and Extension Statements should highlight accomplishments, experience, interests, and goals

• Letters of recommendation need not be submitted with your initial application but will be requested at a later stage.
  For questions regarding this position, please contact Search Committee Chair, Professor Seth Naeve (naeve002@umn.edu).
  Submit applications by April 28th.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).