Applicator

Southern States Cooperative•Burkeville, VA

2d•$17 - $24

About The Position

Prepares and applies custom agronomy products to customers’ fields, including dry and liquid fertilizer, crop protectants, lime, and other treatment products. Operates and maintains application vehicles and equipment, follows customer work orders and product labeling, and complies with applicable regulations and operating procedures while working independently at customer sites. The role includes preparing and transferring products, checking application coverage and spread patterns, and making corrections as needed. Depending on grade and licensing, duties may include liquid applications, schedule planning and customer contact, training other Applicators, providing product-use guidance, recommending treatments, and mixing or blending products. The Applicator communicates with team members and management about scheduling, dispatch, equipment, supplies, and productivity; travels to customer locations in company vehicles; performs preventive maintenance and repairs; maintains equipment and vehicle records; and assists with inventory, shipping, receiving, and material handling. The role also includes maintaining clean work areas, attending required training and certification activities, following safety and environmental policies, and potentially assisting in the warehouse or delivering feed and farm supplies. Work is primarily outdoors and may involve exposure to weather, mechanical and vehicle hazards, noise, dust, fumes, hazardous chemicals, vibration, electrical current, lubricants, and wet surfaces. Schedules vary by production season; extended hours, alternate schedules, and reporting in adverse weather may be required. The position requires continuous physical activity, including driving and operating equipment, bending, crouching, standing and walking on uneven surfaces, and lifting loads up to 100 pounds occasionally. Pay rate is $17–$24 per hour.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of experience in an Applicator role applying fertilizer, crop protectants, and other treatment products.
Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); licensing requirements may vary by location and current state and federal regulations.
Satisfactorily complete a basic Agronomy Short Course within the designated period.
Satisfactorily complete one-on-one training with an experienced applicator before using equipment unsupervised.
Safely operate a motor vehicle to perform essential duties and comply with the company motor vehicle safety policy.
Ability to learn and apply knowledge of applicator equipment, precision agriculture software and hardware, company procedures, and government regulations.
Ability to troubleshoot and perform general maintenance and repair of applicator equipment.
Ability to use GPS equipment.
Ability to read and interpret operating manuals, manufacturer instructions, diagrams, and formulas.
Ability to work independently and consistently follow safety, quality-control, and operating procedures.
Ability to perform arithmetic, including calculating percentages using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
Attention to detail.
Ability to communicate professionally with customers and speak, read, and write English proficiently.
Ability to work extended hours to meet business demands and report on time in adverse weather conditions.
Ability to hear vehicle and equipment sounds, coworkers, and radio communications; speak with coworkers and customers about production and safety; and meet the stated vision requirements.
Ability to perform continuous physical activity, including frequent bending, crouching, stooping, driving, standing, walking on uneven surfaces, repetitive hand and foot movements, and twisting; lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds continuously, 50–80 pounds frequently, and 80–100 pounds occasionally.
Ability to use required personal protective equipment and work around moving machinery, vehicles, noise, dust, odors, fumes, hazardous chemicals, vibration, electrical current, lubricants, and wet surfaces.

Nice To Haves

Experience maintaining applicator equipment and vehicles.
Experience operating a forklift.
Previous Southern States work experience.
Depending on role grade and assigned duties, pesticide certification, Registered Applicator Technician credentials, and a Commercial Applicator’s License.

Responsibilities

Prepare dry fertilizer, crop protectants, and other treatment products according to customer work orders; transfer products into spreading vehicles and handle and load equipment.
Operate bulk spreading vehicles, including dry spreaders, spreader trucks, and Terra-Gators, and apply products with complete coverage of designated areas.
Inspect application equipment and spread patterns and make corrections as needed.
Where applicable, prepare and apply liquid fertilizer, crop protectants, and other treatment products; transfer liquid products and operate spray trucks and crop sprayers with specified boom coverage.
Assist with planning application schedules and contact customers by telephone to schedule applications.
Assist in training Applicators and provide guidance and coaching on product and equipment use; communicate technical information clearly.
Where authorized by licensing, recommend treatments based on on-site observations and mix or blend products according to product labeling.
Maintain regular communication with team members and the manager regarding scheduling, dispatch, equipment condition, supplies, productivity, and other operational needs.
Drive company vehicles to customer sites and represent the company professionally while respecting customer land, property, and equipment.
Maintain equipment and vehicles, perform preventive maintenance and repairs, report complex issues, and keep maintenance records current.
Participate in equipment rodeos and GrowMaster certification activities.
Assist with physical inventory and inventory control; as needed, assist with shipping and receiving and operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment according to facility procedures.
Keep tools, equipment, supplies, vehicles, and work areas clean and orderly; minimize and properly dispose of waste.
Participate in required training, certification courses, and meetings, and develop skills in application techniques, scheduling, operations, and safety.
Follow safe work practices, use required personal protective equipment, operate vehicles and equipment according to company policy and government regulations, and comply with OSHA and company EHS standards.
As business needs require, assist in the warehouse or drive delivery routes for feed and farm supplies.
Perform other assigned job functions.