Apprentice Applicator

Keystone Cooperative; Indiana; On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural cooperative is seeking a dedicated Applicator to safely apply products to crops, operate equipment, and maintain customer relations. The role includes ensuring compliance with safety regulations and maintaining equipment. This position offers growth potential to a Custom Applicator role based on performance evaluations.

Qualifications

• Must obtain and maintain required state commercial applicator certification.
• Minimum of an Ag CDL.

Responsibilities

• Provides quality application of dry fertilizer products and lime to customers.
• Maintains accurate applicator and equipment logs.
• Follows Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, and DOT policies.

Skills

Communication

Mechanical Skills

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Overview of Position: The purpose of the position is to apply products safely and accurately to a wide range of labeled crops and sites based on recommendations made by the Manager/Salesperson. This position also involves operating and maintaining company equipment involved in these applications. Additionally, it includes building and maintaining customer relations through product application and providing feedback on field conditions to customers and the location manager. Upon annual performance evaluations, this position could lead to a Custom Applicator role.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides quality application of dry fertilizer products and lime to customers in a safe and efficient manner.
• Utilizes supplied information and technology in application equipment to ensure correct products, rates, and application to designated fields and customers.
• Assists in mixing, loading, unloading, and transporting crop protection and fertilizer products.
• Follows all laws, regulations, and safety rules (including PPE) in handling and applying products.
• Obtains and maintains state commercial applicator certification and stays current with requirements.
• Performs daily inspections of equipment before and after field applications.
• Maintains safety equipment in optimal condition and adheres to safety regulations and guidelines.
• Maintains accurate applicator and equipment logs, ensuring they are up to date.
• Performs calibration and preventive maintenance as recommended for equipment.
• Complies with regulatory guidelines for rinsing and washing down equipment in the field and at the location.
• Assists team members with physical duties necessary for operating an agricultural location.
• Supports operational scouting, product transportation, and customer service tasks.
• Follows Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, and DOT policies and procedures as applicable.

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED; experience may offset this requirement.
• Valid driver’s license; must meet Motor Vehicle Review standards per company policy.
• Must obtain and maintain required state commercial applicator certification.
• Minimum of an Ag CDL.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Effective communication with team members and customers; professional and courteous representation of Co-Alliance.
• Ability to read, write, count, and utilize technology for documentation, including understanding shipping/applicator orders, product labels, SDS sheets, warning signs, and emergency procedures.
• Basic mechanical skills for daily equipment maintenance preferred.
• Familiarity with crop chemicals, nutrients, farming practices, and crop characteristics.
• Willingness to adapt to changing application technologies and seasonal workload variations.
• Ability to accurately locate application sites and read field maps using technology.
• Team player with a positive attitude towards contributing to a successful operation and company.
• Willingness to work required overtime during peak seasons.

Physical Demands

• The employee must stay in good physical condition to lift over 50 pounds, climb ladders, perform maintenance, and other physical tasks involved in running an agricultural location. Regular walking, standing, lifting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, handling, feeling, and grasping are required.