GRASSLAND CONSERVATION SPECIALIST

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

· Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.

· Ability to work with diverse clientele independently.

· Knowledge of grazing science, cattle production systems and wildlife ecology including but not limited to clean water, soil health and pollinator habitats.

· Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills.

· Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Science, Agriculture, Wildlife Biology, or a comparable degree from an accredited university with an emphasis on grazing systems and/or one year experience integrating wildlife management principles into grassland systems.

· Ability to learn, collaborate and have general knowledge of grazing and haying programs offered by government agencies and other partner entities to assist landowners with meeting their objectives.

· Ability to work outside 75-80% of the time

· Basic computer skills are required.

· Valid driver’s license.

Draft Work Plan

· Develop and maintain an understanding of the organizational structure and procedures of operations of NRCS, MDC CPLC, DNR Soil and Water Conservation districts and help identify future opportunities.

· Meet with MDC Unit Supervisor, Area Biologist, Private land Conservationists (PLCs) and Quail Forever (QF) biologists to learn about state programs and technical assistance available to producers.

· Meet with area/district NRCS office staff to learn about federal programs that help landowners meet their management objectives.

· Meet with DNR Soil and Water program local leadership in Adair, Putnam, Sullivan, Schuyler, Scotland, Randolph, and Macon counties to discuss opportunities to promote conservation programs to farmers and ranchers

· Meet with University of Missouri Extension staff and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture staff annually to find areas of common interest and assist with development of methods of work together to manage native grasslands in Missouri grazing and haying systems.

· Identify how partners and agencies can collaborate and promote sustainable economic and natural resource grazing and haying techniques on large scale operations such as promoting grid soil sampling, variable rate fertilizer/lime application, diversifying forages with a focus on the use of natives, promoting buffers and utilizing forage cover crops to replace forage lost during native forage establishment.

· Conduct and record at least 40 landowner visits each year and offer practical solutions to improve landowner profits while protecting and/or improving our state’s natural resources.

· Provide timely technical assistance to landowners related to conservation programs and best management practices for cattle production farms regarding native grassland management with priority given to MDC Comprehensive Conservation Strategy (CCS) and Quail Restoration Landscapes (QRL) geographies.

· Return phone calls within three business days, conduct landowner visits within two weeks of initial contact.

· Collaborate with partners to provide outreach and educational opportunities to landowners interested in developing resiliency and diversifying their grazing operations.

· Provide a minimum of four (4) media articles annually (radio, news releases in local papers, SWCD newsletters, Missouri Conservationist, Missouri Farmers Association (MFA) magazine, etc.

· Host two (2) field days/farm tours per year in MDC’s northeast region priority focus areas to promote native grasses, natural community restoration, and grazing best management practices.

· Assist the Department in development and implementation of workshops and field days for private landowners to help promote soil, water, and grazing management objectives, as well as the common-ground conservation improvement mission of both MFGC and the Department

· Attend/host a booth at 5 workshops/field days and special events hosted by non- funding partners interested in grazing such as grazing schools, universities, Farm Bureau or FFA events with a minimum of 50% of those events focused on priority geographies areas within the MDC northeast region.

· Work with state universities, partners, and staff to develop, enhance or coordinate demonstration farms with the goal of educating producers on the wildlife and grazing benefits of native warm season grasses and forbs on a portion of their operations.

· Work with MDC, MFGC and other partners to help develop tools that can show cattle producers the benefits of conservation practices to their farm’s economic goals.

· Actively interact with funding partners, grazers and industry leaders and provide updates of accomplishments, successes, and failures to funding partners.

· Attend four meetings with potential partners such as Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Farm Bureau, and livestock auction facilities to discuss grazing best management practices and potential cost share programs to assist producers with implementing conservation measures.

· Meet quarterly with funding partners in one-on-one setting to discuss future direction and issues of conservation concern.

· Provide weekly updates of accomplishments to CPLC Unit Supervisor and provide semiannual reports to MFGC/CPLC Unit Supervisor to satisfy contract agreement.

· Periodically man booths at funding partner events focused on grazing (MFGC annual conference, MDC workshops, etc.)

· Track work by major job duties, identify where time is expended and report this information semiannually to MFGC board and MDC Unit Supervisor.