Jessica Hone

My first two years entailed working alongside the manger of my current position. I then transitioned into my current role early 2022, gradually gaining more knowledge and experience the last three seasons.

Some of the responsibilities of my current position are listed below.

General Responsibilities

• Locate farmers that have suitable resources to ensure that production targets for Commercial and Experimental Hybrid Seed, and company quality specifications can be achieved. This includes ensuring that the fields history, isolation and other agronomic aspects are suitable for production.
• Co-ordinate parent seed delivery and supervise planting to ensure appropriate planting splits are achieved.
• Ensure predetermined planting dates of individual parents based on relevant serial planting, production research and commercial seed production information are suitable. Confirmation of planting dates with Seed Production Lead prior to planting.
• Assist in the development and implementation of planting strategies that utilize and match available resources in order to achieve production target quantities, quality standards, and cost standards in a timely manner.
• Assist in the co-ordination of all harvesting including corn cob picking, drying and shelling with contractors and growers to ensure quality is maintained and not compromised throughout the process.
• Co-ordinate the timely freight and delivery of raw seed to the designated processing facility.
• Ensure all administrative functions including expense, HR and other reports as requested are conducted in a timely, accurate and efficient manner in accordance with company procedures.
• Ensure management is kept informed of all expense expectations and aim to maintain and manage expenses at or below budgeted levels.
• Ensure that all rogueing detasselling and other crop activities are carried out in a timely manner to ensure genetic purity standards are met.
• Accurately input all crop updates into the relevant data base in a timely manner to ensure all records are up to date.
• Ensure that all Production Seed machinery and equipment is fully maintained and available for use safely when required.
• Ensure casual labour is organised as required including co-ordinating the timing and numbers required daily.
• Liaise with the external agronomists and internal personnel to ensure best possible yield and quality are achieved

Quality Management System Responsibilities

• Ensure the processes and documented information relevant to the Quality Management System and their role are understood, established, implemented, maintained and improved.
• Adhere to the requirements of the Quality Management System
• Strive to achieve the company objectives and targets relevant to their role
• Fix or communicate the problems I find to the appropriate person
• Contribute to the improvement of the Quality Management System