Job Description
Join the Southern States Team
At Southern States, we're more than an agricultural cooperative. We're a team dedicated to serving local farmers, communities, and each other. As an Applicator, you'll work with modern equipment, receive ongoing training, and play a hands-on role in helping our customers grow and succeed. If you enjoy working outdoors, operating equipment, and making a direct impact, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Do
- Apply dry fertilizer, crop protection products, lime, and other agronomy treatments according to customer work orders and application standards.
- Operate applicator equipment, including spreader trucks, Terra-Gators, and other specialized application vehicles.
- Utilize GPS and precision agriculture technology to ensure accurate product placement and complete field coverage.
- Conduct pre-trip inspections, routine maintenance, and basic repairs to keep vehicles and equipment operating safely and efficiently.
- Communicate with team members and supervisors regarding schedules, equipment needs, application progress, and customer service needs.
- Load, transport, handle, and inventory agronomy products while following all safety and environmental guidelines.
- Maintain accurate equipment maintenance records and participate in training, certifications, and annual equipment evaluations.
- Support warehouse, delivery, and other operational activities as business needs require.
- Represent Southern States professionally while providing excellent service to customers.
- Follow all company, environmental, DOT, OSHA, and safety regulations.
Requirements
Education & Experience
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Previous agricultural, fertilizer application, equipment operation, or related experience preferred.
- Forklift experience preferred.
- Southern States experience is a plus.
Licenses & Certifications
- Valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) required.
- Ability to successfully complete Southern States agronomy training and applicator certification requirements.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Ability to safely operate and maintain applicator equipment.
- Ability to learn precision agriculture technology, GPS systems, and application software.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to follow procedures, regulations, and safety standards.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality work.
- Professional communication and customer service skills.
- Basic math skills and ability to read operational manuals and instructions.
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
- Ability to work extended and seasonal hours as business demands require.
- Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
- Primarily outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
- Regular exposure to agricultural products, equipment, noise, dust, and moving machinery.
- Frequent lifting of up to 50 lbs. and occasional lifting of up to 100 lbs.
- Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, stoop, and operate equipment for extended periods.
- Must be able to meet all vision, hearing, and physical requirements necessary to safely perform the job.
Southern States Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on their race, color, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, family medical history or genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws, or regulations.
Skills Required
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
- Ability to successfully complete agronomy training and applicator certification requirements
- Previous agricultural, fertilizer application, equipment operation, or related experience
- Forklift experience
- Ability to safely operate and maintain applicator equipment
- Ability to learn GPS systems, precision agriculture technology, and application software
- Mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to follow procedures, regulations, and safety standards
- Ability to work extended and seasonal hours
- Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English
- Ability to meet physical requirements, including lifting and operating equipment for extended periods
Southern States Cooperative Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Southern States Cooperative and has not been reviewed or approved by Southern States Cooperative.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage sits alongside wellness, disability, life, AD&D, FSAs, and an EAP, forming a broad health and protection suite. Insurance quality is singled out positively in multiple roles.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, company holidays, and a vacation buy-back option offer meaningful time-away flexibility. PTO is characterized as better than average in several accounts.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and a long-standing savings and retirement plan for certain employees support long-term financial security. These programs are regularly highlighted as core elements of total rewards.
Southern States Cooperative Insights
What We Do
Welcome to Southern States Cooperative's Company Page! You can also visit www.southernstates.com for special updates, our library of articles and more! Ask us for expert advice on farming, raising livestock, gardening and more. Our Mission Our mission is to be customer-focused and the best at providing products, services and growing solutions for farms and around the home...Farmer owned since 1923. Our Values Embrace our agricultural heritage. We recognize the deep roots we share with the farming communities in which we operate. As such, we will continue to embrace the people, the rural way of life, and the leadership opportunity we've been given for the stewardship and preservation of farming, the environment and our rural communities. Do our best, no matter what. Determination. Initiative. Reliability. The cornerstones of a good day's work. We recognize the trust our customers place in us and we realize there will always be challenges. With this in mind, we never let obstacles get in our way and we hold ourselves accountable as we strive to do our best every single day. Always be neighborly. We are committed to honor and practice the values we share with our farming communities: integrity, high ethical and moral standards, and respect for the land, patrons and for our associates. -- Southern States Cooperative reserves the right to collect User Generated Content such as submitted photos and videos to use in marketing materials where appropriate and to remove any and all inappropriate post content. Our team strives to answer your questions as quickly and accurately as possible through all of our social networks.
