Apprentice Applicator

Keystone Cooperative; Vincennes (IN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Keystone Cooperative seeks an agricultural applicator to apply dry fertilizer and lime to customers, ensuring accuracy and safety in every field. You will operate and maintain equipment, maintain logs, and support fellow team members during busy seasons.

Requirements include a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and the ability to obtain state commercial applicator certification and an Ag CDL. This role emphasizes safety, reliability, and strong communication with customers.

Qualifications

• Proven communication with team members and customers.
• Ability to read, write, and use technology for documentation and orders.
• Basic mechanical skills and familiarity with crop chemicals a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provides quality application of dry fertilizer products and lime safely and efficiently.
• Uses application equipment data to apply right products at correct rates.
• Assists in mixing, loading, unloading, and transporting products.
• Follows all safety rules and PPE requirements.
• Obtains and maintains required state commercial applicator certification.
• Inspects equipment daily before/after field applications and maintains logs.
• Performs calibration and preventive maintenance on equipment.
• Complies with environmental, safety, OSHA, and DOT policies.
• Supports other team members in field operations and customer service.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Documentation

Technology literacy

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 from recommendations made by the Manager/Salesperson. This position also operates and maintains company equipment involved in these applications. This includes building and maintaining customer relations through application of products and providing feedback to customers and location manager of field conditions that they note during application. Upon annual performance evaluations, this position could lead to a Custom Applicator position.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Provides quality application of dry fertilizer products and lime to customers in a safe and efficient manner.
• Utilize the information supplied and the technology in the application equipment to ensure that the right products at the right rates are applied to the right fields and customers.
• Assist in the mixing, loading, unloading, and transporting of crop protection and fertilizer products.
• Consistently follows all laws, regulations, and safety rules (including PPE) in handling and applying products.
• Obtains/maintains state commercial applicator certification and stays current with requirements.
• Performs daily inspection of equipment prior to field applications and post application inspections.
• Maintains safety equipment in optimum condition in the applicator equipment and immediate work area; follows all safety regulations and guidelines.
• Maintains the appropriate applicator and equipment logs and ensures they are kept up to date.
• Performs the required calibration and preventive maintenance recommended for the equipment.
• Comply with regulatory guidelines in rinsing and washing down both in the field and at the location.
• Assist other team members in various physical duties necessary in running an agricultural location.
• Assist with operational scouting, product transportation and various services for customers.
• Follow Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.

Required Qualifications

• High School graduate or GED; may be offset by experience.
• Valid driver’s license; must be able to meet a Motor Vehicle Review in accordance with Company policy.
• Must obtain and maintain required state commercial applicator certification as required by state.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an Ag CDL.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Communicate effectively with team members and customers and represent Keystone in a professional and courteous manner.
• Ability to read, count, write, and to utilize technology to accurately complete all documentation, including understanding shipping/applicator orders and tickets, product labels, SDS sheets, warning signs and emergency procedures.
• Basic mechanical skills for daily maintenance of equipment preferred.
• Be familiar with crop chemicals, nutrients, farming practices, and crop characteristics.
• Possess the willingness to adapt to changing application technologies as well as seasonal variations in workload responsibilities.
• Use technology to accurately locate application sites and read field maps.
• Must be a team player and enjoy the effort necessary to contribute to a successful operation and company.
• Required overtime as the season demands.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• The employee needs to stay in good physical condition to regularly lift more than 50 pounds, climb ladders, perform preventive maintenance activities, and perform other physical duties necessary in running an agricultural location. Employee will regularly be required to walk, stand, lift, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, handle, feel and grasp.