Heartland Food Products Group hiring Agronomist - Farm Manager in Ocala, FL | LinkedIn (2024)

Splenda and its parent company, Heartland Food Products Group, recently launched the first fully integrated stevia farm in the United States. The farm is located about one hour northeast of Tampa, on I-75 at Lake Panasoffkee. The operation is a $50 million investment and spans 1,465 acres, with a focus on eco-conscious practices and the use of advanced technologies to develop, raise, and process stevia.

From inception, the Splenda Stevia Farm Management team designed the 1,465-acre farm to be eco-conscious. By growing stevia in the US, Splenda will reduce CO2 emissions by simplifying the existing complex and heavy transportation infrastructure, eliminating the need to transport product overseas. Splenda engineered socially responsible farming techniques and implemented water conservation measures and waste management, reshaping the impact stevia processing has on the environment.

Because the farm is fully, vertically integrated, Splenda is able to oversee every step of stevia production, from crop propagation to extraction of sweet glycosides (sugars) from the leaves. During the Farm’s innovative process, the stevia leaves are grown from cuttings from mother plants containing the strongest agricultural properties including the sweetest and best tasting stevia. The leaves are harvested and steeped in fresh water where the sweet stevia is then extracted with the water, and filtered, providing pure stevia glycosides for use in foods & beverages. The result is sweetness without bitterness, giving consumers high-quality and more importantly, great tasting low-calorie sweeteners grown by US farmers.

Position Overview

This position will directly oversee the production of stevia on a day-to-day basis across all Splenda Stevia farms under the control of Heartland Food Groups in the North-Central Florida area. This position will provide daily leadership to the Splenda Stevia Farm production team and work jointly with independent consultants, industry partners, and stakeholders to develop best management practices to produce stevia in the North-Central Florida area.

Job Responsibilities

-Oversee daily operations of stevia production at Lake Panasoffkee and Archer Farms. This includes coordinating field activities for the Splenda Stevia Farm team and contracted labor to meet stevia production goals and deadlines. This includes preparing plans and schedules for planting, harvesting, cultivating, fertilizing, irrigating, and pesticide applications to ensure the farm is running effectively and efficiently.

-Develop the agronomic best management practices for stevia production. This includes primarily collaborating with our independent consultants and stakeholders to develop fertility, pesticide/fungicide, and irrigation programs to maximize stevia production using sustainable and economic principles.

-Purchase/maintain/fabricate equipment used for stevia production. This includes tractors, harvesters, sprayers, cultivation equipment, fertilizer applicators, and irrigation systems (pivot and sprinkler).

-Coordinate with suppliers in purchasing necessary crop inputs such as fertilizer and chemicals needed for crop production.

-Monitor and ensure compliance with governmental and agricultural policies and regulations, especially regarding the areas of pesticide, nutrient, and irrigation applications with accurate record keeping.

-Maintain accurate farm financial budgets which include outline needs for future purchases and farm improvements.

-Recruit, train and supervise new and existing farm personnel in the production aspects of stevia.

Job Qualifications/Skills

- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Agronomy preferred, and minimum of five years farm management experience.

-Extensive knowledge and understanding of best farming practices and latest agricultural technology to increase farm output.

-The ability to work in a collaborative environment to meet goals and deadlines with strong communication and interpersonal skills.

-Practical understanding of farm machinery and implements to better develop farming production practices.

-Problem-solving skills to adapt quickly and fluidly to changing circ*mstances revolving the production of stevia brought about by weather events, loss of personnel, mechanical breakdowns, etc.

-Organizational skills to coordinate all aspects of stevia production including production, harvesting, budgeting and personnel.