Rush River Seed Sales Associate Job Description

Position Title: Rush River Seed & Chemical Sales Associate
Company: Rush River Seed & Chemical (Pioneer Seed Distributor, Corteva Agriscience Partner)
Location: Field-based within assigned territory (Minot and surrounding area of a 40–80-mile radius)
Employment Type: Full-time, with potential independent contractor opportunities if desired

Overview

The Rush River Seed Sales Associate is tasked with driving sales of Pioneer brand seeds and seed treatments, Corteva crop protection products (as well as other major crop protection brands), and nutritional solutions to farmers and agricultural clients across North Dakota’s key growing regions. This role combines agronomic knowledge, a deep passion for customer service, and sales expertise and drive to deliver tailored solutions that boost crop performance and strengthen Rush River’s reputation as a trusted local partner. It is also an excellent opportunity for rapid growth due to the backing of a strong brand with top-notch product performance in an untapped Minot area market.

Key Responsibilities

• Sales and Customer Engagement:
  • Promote and sell Pioneer seed products (e.g., corn, soybeans, canola) along with seed treatments, Corteva crop protection solutions amongst other brands (e.g., herbicides, insecticides), and nutritional products (e.g., fertilizers, bio stimulants) to meet customer needs.
  • Build and maintain relationships with farmers and resellers, identifying opportunities to grow sales and brand recognition within the territory.
  • Achieve sales goals by offering integrated solutions that enhance yield, pest control, and crop health.
  • Tap the potential of Pioneer and Corteva’s TruChoice advantage, saving farmers input costs on both Pioneer seed and Corteva crop protection when packaging together.
  • Possible opportunity to expand Corteva’s crop protection reach with other Pioneer agencies and their customers within Western North Dakota.
• Agronomic Support:
  • Provide expert guidance on seed selection, crop protection applications, and nutritional strategies, customized to local conditions like northwestern North Dakota’s soil types and climate.
  • Educate customers on the value of Pioneer genetics and recent local R&D efforts results and major improvements, as well Corteva’s product lineup, ensuring proper use for optimal results.
  • Collaborate with Rush River’s sales agronomists and Pioneer and Corteva specialists to address field-specific challenges.
• Territory Management:
  • Oversee an assigned territory, developing a sales plan to expand Rush River’s brand recognition and market share in the surrounding Minot area.
  • Maintain detailed records of sales, customer interactions, and market insights using Rush River’s and Pioneer’s tools and systems.
  • Monitor local competitor activity and adapt strategies to highlight Rush River’s product and service advantages, especially with Pioneer’s new and leading Power Core Enlist Corn, Z Series Soybeans and 100 series Canola.
• Relationship Building:
  • Foster long-term partnerships with customers through regular farm visits, follow-ups, and a commitment to their success, reflecting Rush River’s “marathon, not a sprint” philosophy.
  • Represent Rush River and Pioneer at local ag events, field days, or community gatherings to promote brand loyalty.
• Business Operations:
  • Forecast demand for seed, chemical, and nutritional products, working with the Rush River and Pioneer team to ensure timely product delivery.
  • Manage order processing, coordinate logistics, and provide post-sale support to ensure customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agronomy, business or a related field preferred (or equivalent experience in farming or ag sales, or sales experience with some farming background).
• Experience: Background in agricultural sales, seed industry, or crop protection/nutritionals is a plus.
• Skills:
  • Strong sales and relationship-building skills with a focus on customer needs.
  • Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
  • Self-motivated with the ability to manage a field-based role effectively.
  • Knowledge of agronomy, including seed traits, pest management, and crop nutrition, specific to North Dakota’s growing conditions.
• Other: Valid driver’s license required; willingness to travel across rural territories regularly.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus commission tied to sales of seeds, crop protection, and nutritionals for premium earning opportunities in a wide-open Pioneer/Corteva territory.
• Potential benefits (if full-time with Rush River) include health insurance, 401k, phone, vehicle and gas coverage (or mileage reimbursement); independent contractors operate on a commission-only structure with business flexibility.

Work Environment

• Field-based role requiring travel to farms and rural communities in North Dakota.
• Seasonal workload peaks during planting (spring) and harvest (fall), with flexibility required to meet customer demands.
• More flexibility than most seed and chemical retailers due to the fact that Rush River is not in the dry fertilizer industry.

About Rush River Seed & Chemical

Founded in 1978 in Amenia, ND, Rush River Seed & Chemical has grown into a multi-location premier Pioneer seed agency and leading Corteva crop protection retailer, serving Cass, Traill, Steele, Ward, McHenry, Bottineau, and Renville Counties. As a proud distributor of Pioneer seeds and Corteva Agriscience products, we prioritize long-term customer relationships, delivering high-quality seeds, crop protection, and nutritional solutions alongside exceptional service. Joining our team means becoming part of a legacy built on trust, innovation, and a commitment to North Dakota farmers.