IPM Sprayer/Scout

Backyard Farms, LLC; Madison (ME); On-site; USD 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K

Paid time off

Employee Engagement & Recognition

Opportunities for growth and advance

Job summary

Backyard Farms, LLC is seeking a full-time greenhouse scout to monitor pest and disease, apply IPM protocols, and maintain insect traps in our Maine greenhouse. The role requires adapting to spray shifts and occasional weekend work during peak season.

You will operate spray equipment, record data, and support management with weekly bios and trap counts, while adhering to food safety policies and staying bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus.

Qualifications

• Willing to be trained on pest and disease identification.
• Basic knowledge of insects and pests.
• Pest & disease identification.
• Good verbal and written English/Spanish is an asset.
• Honest, flexible, reliable and respectful team player.
• Ability to work extra hours as needed during the 6 days per week season.

Responsibilities

• Daily monitoring and scouting of pest and disease in the greenhouse.
• Mixing and applying chemicals; operate spray machines.
• Early detection and identification of pests; maintain insect traps and weekly trap counts.
• Follow IPM protocols and compile IPM/conventional reports.
• Verify pest/disease infestation; record variety data.
• Ensure cleanliness and adherence to food safety policies.
• Prior experience in greenhouse or produce environment.

Skills

Pest & disease identification

Team player

Bilingual English/Spanish

Willing to learn / training provided

Insect knowledge

Job description

Full-Time Shift: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm; Monday – Friday; When scheduled to Spray the work shift is 2:00pm-10:30pm, need to be flexible with hours and occasional weekends when needed.

Hourly Rate: $15.56/hour when Scouting

Hourly Rate: $17.56 when spraying

Hourly Rate: $18.83 if hold a valid State of Maine Pesticide License.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Daily monitoring and scouting of pest and disease in the greenhouse
• Duties include mixing and applying chemicals. Operating spray machines.
• Be able to do an early detection and identification of pests and maintain insect traps in designated areas of the greenhouse and do weekly trap counts of proper management and distribution of bios (live insects or mites) according with instructions of the Grower.
• Follow IPM protocols of pest and disease
• Compiling IPM and conventional reports for management
• Verification of pest and disease infestation.
• Variety recording and verification of data
• Ensure cleanliness, adherence to all food safety policies and procedures and organization within the greenhouse.
• Previous experience in greenhouse or produce environment

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Be willing to Training will be provided on pests and disease identification.
• Basic knowledge on insects, and pests.
• Pest & disease identification
• Good verbal and written English/Spanish is an asset.
• Must be honest and forthcoming, flexible, reliable, respectful to others, and
• Ability to work extra hours as needed to complete the scout and bio program of the 6 days per week in season.
• Must be team player

Working Conditions:

• Greenhouse Environment, where the temperature averages 70°F and background noise approaches 70 dcbs.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Stand for extended times, walking on concrete and uneven surfaces, twist/bend at the waist.
• Be comfortable with heights of 10 – 15 feet while working on raised trolley platform.
• Must be able to work around bees.
• Ability to wear respirator. Wear protective coveralls.
• Ability to work during off hours to address emergency conditions or situations that may arise.

We are pleased to offer the following Benefits:

• 401K
• Paid time off
• Employee Engagement & Recognition Programs
• Opportunities for growth and advancement

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.