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MAEAP Technician position

We are accepting applications through October 9 for the full time MAEAP Technician position.

Position Description
MAEAP Program Technician 

Location: This position is located at:       
Cass County Conservation District (CCCD),
1127 East State Street, Cassopolis, MI 49031

Application Deadline: October 9, 2020                          
Starting Date: November 1, 2020

POSITION OBJECTIVE: To oversee and implement all aspects of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) in Cass County. This is a grant-funded position with intentions for annual grant renewal. 

  1. This position will deliver the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program through on-farm technical assistance, using farm specific risk assessments, education, and conservation plan development. The Technician coordinates local, state, and federal agency resources to help clients implement practices that reduce identified environmental risks and progress toward MAEAP verification.  

RELATIONSHIPS: The Technician is supervised by, and reports to, the CCCD Administrator. The Technician works with the CCCD Board and several partner organizations (i.e. Farm Bureau, Southwest Michigan College, DNR) in developing priorities for the program. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

  1. Coordinates all aspects of the county’s MAEAP and is fully familiar with, and adheres to, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) grant agreement and guidelines for conducting the program at the local level.  
  2. Provides timely reports and updates to the CCCD Board of Directors. Completes and submits regular reports to MDARD. Maintains and secures accurate administrative and financial records and a well-organized filing system for those records. 
  3. Promotes Farm*A*Syst, Crop*A*Syst, Livestock*A*Syst, Forest, Wetlands & Habitats Systems *A*Syst, Clean Sweep, Greenhouse*A*Syst, best management practices to prevent soil erosion and protect water quality, invasive species awareness, and other stewardship practices through displays, newsletter articles, Facebook posts, group presentations, demonstrations, news releases and any other creative means. 
  4. Conducts Farm*A*Syst, Crop*A*Syst, Livestock*A*Syst, FWH Systems *A*Syst and Greenhouse*A*Syst assessments. Works with MDARD to complete system verifications.
  5. Assists landowners in developing emergency management plans for their farmsteads. Promotes the use of emergency planning, and other activities identified by the local advisory Environmental Assurance Team. Attends Cass County Office Emergency Management Planning meetings.
  6. Coordinate annual field day and community water testing event as required by MDARD.
  7. Participates in occasional trainings and meetings which require overnight lodging.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:  

  1.  Assist with office and other programs as needed: Annual meeting, tree sale, newsletters, walk-in customers, answering telephones, special event booths, and anything else not specifically listed yet deemed appropriate for district or office work. 
  2. Develop a weekly work schedule in consultation with the District Administrator.
  3. Assist and promote, through public relations, the district’s events. 
  4. Conduct prepared presentations on soil and water conservation topics as requested. 
  5. Prepare news articles of local interest and about general conservation subjects including notices of demonstrations and workshops. 
  6. Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

  1. Education: A minimum of a B.S. degree in agriculture, animal, crop, environmental, agronomy, natural resources management, dairy and/or soil science; or horticulture. 
  2. Experience: A minimum of two years of experience in agricultural or natural resources fieldwork. Experience working with field crops, dairy and/or livestock preferred. 
  3. Training in site planning, and/or nutrient, fuel and pest management desired. 
  4. Ability to interpret print materials, soil/water testing results, and government policies for clients. 
  5. Experience working with specialty crops, forest management, or on-farm food safety beneficial. 

ABILITIES: 

  1. Operate a standard PC workstation and effectively use Windows-based software.
  2. Excellent organizational, management, written and verbal communication skills. 
  3. Exhibit excellent social and interpersonal skills. 
  4. Work cooperatively with other district personnel and with other agencies. 
  5. Must be able to work efficiently outdoors in varying conditions and rough terrain.
  6. Maintain a valid driver’s license. 
  7. Must be able to pass a Federal Background Security Check. 

COMPENSATION PACKAGE: 

Salary: $16.50 -$20.00/hour, dependent on qualifications. 

Benefits Include: health insurance stipend, compensated annual and sick leave. Mileage reimbursement for business related use of personal vehicle. 

Send cover letter, resume and list of 3 references to: 

Cass County Conservation District 
1127 E. State Street 
Cassopolis, MI 49031
Attn: Korie Blyveis or email [email protected]

Cass County Conservation District is an equal opportunity employer and provider

2020 Clean sweep pesticide collections

Cass County farmers/residents don’t miss this opportunity to rid your barn/shed of unwanted or no longer usable pesticides.

Berrien County provides the important service of collecting unused and unwanted old pesticides to eliminate the potential danger to groundwater quality, and environmental and human health if they spill or are improperly disposed. This service is available to qualified applicants, including Michigan pesticide retailers.

Here is the 2020 schedule for this event – please make an appointment today for July 29 collection and get your barn/shed cleaned out of these high risk materials. 2020 Clean Sweep Collection.

The two dates in Berrien County are June 24 and July 29 – for more information contact Jill Adams at 269-983-7111 x 8234 or the Kalamazoo Clean Sweep Program at 269-373-5211.

Volunteer bill westrate in the news

Former employee (CISMA grant educator), and vital volunteer Bill Westrate appeared recently in the Bridge Magazine in an article with shedding light on his concerns of the insect population decline.

We are thankful for citizen science efforts such as his and if you are interesting in learning more or in getting involved with efforts such as his please feel free to contact us at 269-445-8641 x 5

See the full article here: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/whats-happening-michigans-insects-farmers-tale

vIRTUAL MEETING NOTICE

The May 13, 2020 Cass County Conservation District Board Meeting will be held by teleconferencing using Zoom.

Cass County Conservation District

PUBLIC NOTICE

Virtual Meeting Notice

The Cass County Conservation District Board will hold the Regular Board Meeting scheduled on

 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 8:30 am

by teleconferencing using Zoom instead of in the USDA Service Center:

The special virtual means of conducting the meeting is due to grave concerns over the coronavirus and resulting COVID-19 disease, the social distancing ordered by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and in compliance with Executive Order 2020-77.

The meeting is open to the public in compliance with the
Michigan Open Meetings Act. Any member of the public who wishes to hear the meeting and speak during public comment times may do so by following the link below and signing in with meeting ID and password. If you have troubles accessing this or need special accommodations please contact Korie Blyveis at 269-506-8334 or email [email protected] before meeting to discuss alternate options and to receive a meeting agenda.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9364376130?pwd=VGhkODZ2L3QrSGhxMWI0TUxJRVBLdz09

 Meeting ID: 936 437 6130 Password: Healthy

For more information contact

Korie Blyveis, District Administrator at 269-445-8641 x 5.

Cass County Conservation District will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services upon request.

 This notice was posted by Korie Blyveis to comply with Sections 4 and 5 of Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.265) at 6:30pm on May 11, 2020 on the District Office door and website which is at least 18 hours prior to the start of the meeting.