Bryce Mericka
Agronomist
Gibsonville,NC
Summary
Detail-oriented Agronomist helping teams develop basic and advanced agronomic knowledge to develop and improve products that add value to customer's bottom line. Versed in product research and development, customer support, and sales acquisition. Passionate about our path towards more sustainable practices in agriculture- in hopes of ensuring food security while minimizing our impact on the environment.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
4
4
Certification
Work History
Sales Agronomist
Sound Agriculture
East Coast, United States
06.2022 - 04.2024
- Increased sales along the East Coast over 60% by developing strong relationships with farmers and providing tailored agronomic advice.
- Arranged and executed various technical activities including large grower meetings, sales presentations, sales trainings and regional trials to drive sales along the East Coast.
- Actively promoted a novel chemistry aimed at leveraging the soil microbiome to improve nutrient use efficiency in many different crop production systems.
- Developed new business through targeted prospecting efforts, cold calling, and attending industry events.
- Provided valuable feedback to R&D teams based on field observations and customer insights, contributing to product improvement initiatives (formulation, crop expansion, etc.)
Graduate Research Assistant
NC A&T- Integrated Pest Management Lab
08.2020 - 05.2022
- Conducted variety resistance trials and studied underlying plant defense mechanisms across a range of specialty crops.
- Oversaw experimental plant care for multiple projects and managed entomology research in laboratory, greenhouse, and field settings.
- Directed specialized culturing techniques to rear target insects for off season, in-lab research.
- Avidly adhered to experimental protocols for multiple projects utilizing IPM approach (cultural, chemical, etc.).
- Conducted rigorous experiments using cutting-edge tools and equipment to test hypotheses and validate theories (refractometer, olfactometer, spectrometer, etc.)
- Formulated trap crop densities and evaluated innate resistance mechanisms as an IPM approach to managing vegetable pests (harlequin bug, diamondback moth, flea beetles, etc.)
- Identified pests of a regionally emerging crop (industrial hemp)
Agronomy/Herbicide/Insecticide Research Technician
BASF- Pine Level Research Farm
05.2019 - 08.2020
- Performed on-farm herbicide, insecticide and fungicide trials for registered and experimental chemistries used on commodity and specialty crops.
- Evaluated herbicide efficacy in terms of controlled weed species and crop injury.
- Identified target pests and evaluated insecticide performance in accordance to experimental protocols.
- Prepared and managed ground for trials through plot layout, mowing, disking, irrigating, spraying, rating and transplanting.
Soil & Nematode Lab Technician
NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division
01.2017 - 04.2020
- Enhanced laboratory efficiency by streamlining sample collection and processing procedures.
- Conducted routine quality control checks to ensure accurate test results and maintain laboratory standards.
- Prepared soil samples for quantitative analysis (pH, OM, nutrient content, etc.) through drying, grinding and suspension in reagents.
- Prepared nematode samples for microscope inspection using elutriation followed by a glucose/water mixture for plating.
Education
Master of Science (MS) - Agricultural & Environmental Systems, Integrated Pest Management
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Greensboro, NC05.2022
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Soil and Water Systems, Crop Science
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC05.2020
Skills
- Project Management
- Field Sampling
- Training and Mentoring
- Research and Development
- Field Trial Execution
- Soil Fertility
- Crop Management
- Self Motivation
- Client Relationship Management
- Sales Presentations
- Integrated Pest Management
- Soil Health
Certification
- Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, & Soil Science Society of America
- Advanced Soil Health Course, Cornell University - 2024
- BeCrop Advisor Program, Biome Makers Inc. - 2024
- Associate Professional Soil Science License, The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, & Soil Science Society of America - 2019
- NCSU Soil Judging Team
Timeline
Sales Agronomist
Sound Agriculture
06.2022 - 04.2024
Graduate Research Assistant
NC A&T- Integrated Pest Management Lab
08.2020 - 05.2022
Agronomy/Herbicide/Insecticide Research Technician
BASF- Pine Level Research Farm
05.2019 - 08.2020
Soil & Nematode Lab Technician
NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division
01.2017 - 04.2020
Master of Science (MS) - Agricultural & Environmental Systems, Integrated Pest Management
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Soil and Water Systems, Crop Science
North Carolina State University