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2-4-2004 |
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WVDA ANNOUNCES 40 SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT OPENINGS IN THE PLANT INDUSTRIES DIVISION The first three of these positions are associated with the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program’s pest survey season (May 10-August 31, 2004). This year’s survey activities will deal with slugs and snails, viburnum leaf beetle, invasive weeds such as giant hogweed, goatsrue and tropical soda apple, and monitoring traps for blueberry maggot and leek and nun moths. Other pest detection survey work will be done as time permits. In addition to monitoring insect traps, surveying for slugs and snails and invasive weeds, there will be a need to process samples for taxonomic purposes. One of the individuals will be headquartered at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s (WVDA) Guthrie Center near Charleston, and perform both laboratory and field work away from the office. The other positions in the CAPS Program will be mainly fieldwork and would preferably be headquartered in the Northern Panhandle, north-central region, Eastern Panhandle or southeastern region of the state. The individuals assigned to doing mainly fieldwork will need to prepare specimens for shipment to the Guthrie Center. Applicants for these positions should be familiar with agricultural crops and crop production, able to read county highway and farm maps, and interact with private landowners and the general public in a professional manner. College students with studies in agriculture, entomology, biology, zoology, plant sciences, botany, plant pathology, weed science or equivalent experience are preferred. These positions will require overnight travel and use of a personal vehicle. Seven positions are associated with the Cooperative Forest Health Protection (CFHP) Program and will be headquartered at the Guthrie Center, but travel throughout the state will be required. These individuals will work in teams of two to conduct forest and forest-related insect and disease survey work and perform the necessary lab work to support the surveys from approximately May 10 - August 31, 2004. The other 30 positions are for the 2004 gypsy moth adult male trapping season (approximately May 3 - August 31). These positions are associated with the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Trapping Program and will be located in the following county areas (see map): Boone - 1; Braxton/Calhoun/Roane - 1; Cabell - 1; Fayette - 3; Greenbrier/Nicholas/Webster - 1; Jackson/Ritchie/Wood/Wirt - 1; Kanawha - 1; Lincoln - 1; Logan - 2; McDowell - 2; Mercer - 3; Mingo - 2; Monroe - 2; Putnam - 1; Raleigh - 3; Summers - 2; Wayne - 2; Wyoming - 1. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will also be trapping three areas as part of the STS Program. These areas are in Mason - 1, Putnam - 1 and Jackson - 1. For the gypsy moth trapping and forest survey work, the WVDA prefers college students with studies in entomology, plant pathology, forestry or other biological science, or equivalent experience, who can be trained to read topographic maps, a compass and GPS Units. The jobs range from $7.00 to $8.50 per hour, depending on previous employment with WVDA. Employees are required to provide their own vehicle and will be reimbursed at 34 cents per mile for their vehicle use. For more information and/or applications, contact Kelly Riffe, WVDA, Plant Industries Division, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., E., Charleston, WV 25305-0191; 304/558-2212 or e-mail kriffe@ag.state.wv.us. Return applications to the attention of Kelly Riffe at the above address. Application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2004. Contact: Buddy Davidson The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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