Agronomist

10 November 2021

Emily Nellis

Agronico, TAS

HILA Employment Category: Agronomist

An Agronomist is a scientist who studies plants and soils and applies the knowledge to strengthen the crop production techniques and soil management procedures. Agronomists may work in the laboratories or in the field, but their main objective is to improve people’s approach to the plants and soil they grow in. Based in Tasmania, Agronomist Emily Nellis is working as a vegetable agronomist for Agronico, mainly focussing on seed potatoes, as well as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower crops. Her general job tasks include monitoring the crop from planting to harvest and making sure there are no issues with pests or diseases. She also provides crop and soil management advice and recommends products to growers when required, such as fertilisers, insecticides, and herbicides, to ensure the best possible yield, all while conserving the soil. Although some of her time is spent in an office, Emily primarily works outside and is constantly driving around Tasmania visiting different farms.

Core tasks

To communicate project and research results to other professionals or demonstrate to the public through seminars and workshops.
To recommend the farmers, the best practices for soil conservation and plant growth.
To investigate how a soil type responds to a management technique thereby implementing it based on the results.
To develop newer methods of soil conservation.
To experiment for high yielding seeds, it’s disease resistance, adaptation to soils and nutritional value.
To investigate problem sources poor soil and water and determine the effects.
To study soil characteristics and classifying it on the basis of geographic location, properties landscape position.
To develop improved techniques for measurement, soil sampling devices, and similar technology.
To conduct experiments to investigate how soil develops, changes, and impacts the land-based ecosystems and surrounding living habitat.
To identify contaminated or degraded soils and to develop plans that improves their biological, chemical, and physical properties.