Apprentice Applicator at Keystone Cooperative in Kempton, IN

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 quality application of fertilizer 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 Professional Custom Applicator.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides quality application of crop protection, 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 and billed 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 and storing chemicals.

• 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 program recommended for the equipment.

• Comply with regulatory guidelines in tank mixing, 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.

• Applies the correct labeling, decals and DOT numbers to equipment and tanks.

• May serve as the location Safety Coordinator and adheres to the company’s environmental health and safety policies and training.

Required Qualifications

• High School graduate or GED; may be offset by experience.

• Minimum of 1 year of application 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.

• Minimum of an Ag CDL.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Communicate effectively with team members and customers and represent Keystone Cooperative in a professional and courteous manner.

• Ability to read, count, and write 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, farming practices, crop characteristics, and weed identifications.

• Possess the willingness to adapt to changing application technologies as well as seasonal variations in workload responsibilities.

• Accurately locate application site 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.