Leading national dairy marketing/foods cooperative has an immediate opening for a senior dairy field representative in northwest Pennsylvania (Erie/Meadville area). General Purpose: Provides regular personal contact and service to all Mideast Area producers within a field territory in order to: 1) Maintain and grow the Mideast Area milk supply, 2) Ensure a continuous IMS-rated farm supply of milk, 3) Improve the quality of milk and 4) Administer Mideast Area policies and programs at the producer level. Actively promotes the Mideast Area in the community.
Possesses advanced skills and knowledge gained through specialized training and experience in areas such as milking system evaluation, cleaning and sanitizing evaluation, mastitis prevention, milk quality troubleshooting and membership solicitation. Provides a higher level of expertise and service to members than the Field Representative. Works with other field representatives to assist them in solving problems. Trains and mentors other field representatives to help them develop their skills and expertise.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide every producer with the specific services, information, and assistance he/she needs to produce high quality milk, stay abreast of developments in the dairy industry, and obtain the full benefits of being a Mideast Area producer. Promptly respond to all producer requests and calls including those received outside normal working hours.
Perform thorough inspections of every producer's dairy production facility as often as required by regulations and individual farm conditions to ensure its compliance with federal and state milk sanitation laws and regulations. In states with a Certified Industry Inspection Program, maintain all licenses necessary to perform in this capacity. Take appropriate corrective action when substandard conditions are encountered. Work cooperatively with all federal and state regulatory agencies.
Identify all Grade A dairy farmers in the territory who do not market their milk through the Mideast Area. Select a target group of high priority prospects and call on them regularly in order to persuade them to become Mideast Area producers. Plan and coordinate recruitment efforts with the regional manager.
Monitor producers' milk quality/component test results and provide prompt technical advice and service to those having difficulty earning quality premiums or failing to meet Grade A or local market standards. Advise the regional manager of producers who, after repeated efforts to assist them, are unwilling to correct chronic milk quality deficiencies and should have their marketing relationship with the Mideast Area terminated. Advise producers on state-of-the-art production practices they can employ to increase their production per cow or expand their dairy operations.
Contact all Mideast Area milk haulers in the territory regularly to develop good relationships, discuss problems, and plan ways to improve milk quality, retain current producers, and recruit new producers. Periodically accompany them on their routes to evaluate their milk weighing/sampling procedures. Take corrective action as appropriate when deficiencies are found. Work cooperatively with regulatory agencies and the Mideast Area Hauler Relations Manager to ensure that haulers are in compliance with all laws and regulations governing raw milk transport and are providing proper service to Mideast Area producers.
Assess situations which may result or have resulted in a producer request to terminate his/her marketing relationship with the Mideast Area. With the assistance of the regional manager and other support staff, promptly develop and implement a plan to persuade the producer to remain with the Mideast Area.
Alert the regional manager and other appropriate staff to significant developments in the territory that affect the Mideast Area’s relationships with producers, haulers, customers, competitors, regulatory agencies, or the public.
Ensure the success of Mideast Area-sponsored meetings by setting them up, encouraging producers to attend, and participating in them as appropriate. Participate in local fairs, extension meetings, dairy promotion activities, and related events to present a positive image of the Mideast Area in the community.
Provide managers and administrative staff with complete, accurate, timely information - both written and verbal - required to effectively administer Mideast Area programs and policies.
Arrange for all new farm milk tanks to be checked/calibrated after installation and for existing tanks to be checked/calibrated as needed to assure proper payment to producers and accurate billing to customers.
Stay abreast of current federal and state agriculture/dairy legislative issues. Make contact with legislators when necessary to present the Mideast Area position on an issue. Educate producers on those issues and encourage them to contact their legislators in support of the Mideast Area position.
Provide proper care and maintenance for the Mideast Area’s vehicle and equipment.
Knowledge/Skills/Experience Required:
Education Required:
