Cran Career Spotlight: Irrigation Specialist
Overview
Hortau Simplified Irrigation offers precision agronomic tools to help farmers manage water and other inputs on their farm. Using soil tension technology, farmers know how hard their plants are working to extract water from the soil and can make real time decisions on when to irrigate and irrigation length.
What is this career like?
Hortau Field Representatives spend most of their time in the field working hand in hand with farms and farmers installing, maintaining, and supporting our equipment, ranging from soil tensiometers, thermometers, weather stations, and automatic start stations for diesel and electric pumps. During the winter months, field representatives spend their time examining graphs for ag support, updating field stations, and handling sales calls as they come in.
Some of the things Hortau Field Representatives might do:
Handle sales calls and recommend the correct number of stations and sensors for each farm
Install each field station, sensor, or automation station as needed
Handle any agronomic questions the farmer may have regarding our systems to best make irrigation decisions
Update and repair any field stations that are damaged or in need of replacement
Prepare reports for government use, research use, assist researchers in using the technology
Present and exhibit Hortau technology and services at trade shows and seminars
What skills are needed?
Problem Solving Skills. Field representatives often must troubleshoot why a certain sensor or station is not functioning properly
Communication Skills. Field representatives work directly with the farmers and need to explain and train customers in how to interface with and use the technology concisely. Field representatives also work with the sales team, service team, and engineering team. Communication with those teams helps deliver the best service possible to the customer.
Self-discipline. Field Representatives work alone most of the time. Self-drive and motivation develops trust with the customer and the company
What education is required?
Hortau field representatives are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields of study. They include, environmental science, biology, environmental chemistry, geology, hydrology, soil physics, ag business administration, or engineering. In other growing regions, field representatives are encouraged to pursue certificate programs for pest management, irrigation advising, and crop management.
On the job training is very important to working for Hortau. Field representatives may spend up to 2 months working in other growing regions such as California, Colorado, or Quebec learning from other Field representatives, salesmen, grower support personnel, and service technicians. Field representatives need to be well versed in all 3 facets of this line of what Hortau does. Advanced personnel work closely with our engineering team to help create new parts and computer programs for internal and customer use.
