The Life of an Applicator at Premier Ag

At Premier Ag, what defines us as an organization is our people. We recently sat down with one of our applicators, Kyle, to learn more about his role, how he got into the industry, and his advice for future applicators.

Q: What inspired you to become an applicator, and how long have you been doing this job?

A: As a kid, I always enjoyed watching the machinery on the farms around my community. My sophomore year, I had the opportunity to work on a large farm in the hog operation. Later on, I was moved to the crops department where I started learning more about spraying and spreading organic fertilizer. Twenty years later, I am still in the same sector of the industry. Because of the continuous research and technological advancements, my job always has a new component to learn keeping it fresh and exciting every season.

Q: What kind of education or training did you receive to become an applicator, and how do you stay up to date with the latest techniques and regulations?

A: Most of my initial training came from hands-on experience and learning from other experienced individuals in the field that gave me the opportunity to actually get behind the wheel of the machinery. As for staying up to date on current regulations and techniques, it can sometimes be a little overwhelming with how quickly we as an industry are learning. That being said, my team and I have the opportunity to attend many training courses and classes as often as we can.

Q: What types of crops do you typically work with, and what kinds of pests or diseases are common in your area?

A: I mainly work with corn, soybeans, and wheat but I also cover hay, pasture, and CRP fields. There are a number of different pests and diseases I deal with that change with the seasons. For example, recently waterhemp seems to be an ongoing problem in my area. Poison Hemlock is really bad in the spring and summer. I’ve also noticed cockle burrs are starting to be a problem in many fields and pastures. Other pests are also a problem such as insects. Army worm, stink bugs, corn earworm, black cutworm, the list just keeps going. Some diseases are tar spot, sudden death, common rust are just a few.

Q: What kinds of equipment do you use to apply pesticides or fertilizer, and how do you ensure that they are properly calibrated and maintained?

A: I am mostly in a Case Trident with a Salford Airflow bed that I apply fertilizer with, but I do spray occasionally using a Case Patriot self-propelled sprayer. The way I make sure my sprayer is calibrated is by adding some product and weighing it and then running product out and re-weighing to make sure my actual weight is right with the monitor. Once in the field, I will know how many acres I have to spread and how much product I have and just make sure I’m coming out right at the end of the field not having too much or not enough product. I also like to keep my equipment clean and serviced.

Q: What kind of environmental impact do pesticides and fertilizers have, and how do you balance the need for effective crop protection with minimizing harm to the ecosystem?

A: Pesticides can contaminate soil and water, which can be toxic to fish and other animals. Fertilizer can contaminate drinking water and release odors and gasses into the air. To minimize harm to the ecosystem, I follow the label and the product, don’t apply more than needed, and make sure not to apply close to water and waterways. Also, I don’t apply when it is too windy.

Q: How do you communicate with other members of the farming team, such as agronomists or crop consultants, to coordinate your work and ensure optimal results?

A: I use Advantage Edge to get maps and rate recommendations and then communicate back to the office if I see other problems.

Q: How do you keep track of the materials you use and the areas you’ve treated, and how do you ensure that you’re following all relevant regulations and record-keeping requirements?

A: The company uses Advantage Edge Ag software that helps us keep track of the materials and area covered. My branch manager keeps me up to date on regulations and record keeping requirements.

Q: How do you respond to unexpected challenges, such as sudden changes in weather or outbreaks of new pests or diseases?

A: You have to be flexible to unexpected changes. For example, you may have to change what you are doing in certain weather conditions. If it is too windy to spray, you may still be able to spread fertilizer or you may need to spray instead of spreading if you have a new pest or disease.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job, and what do you find most challenging?

A: What I enjoy most about my job is getting to meet new farmers and spread many different farms and different terrains. As for the most challenging part of my job, I’d have to say keeping up with all the new regulations and technologies. That being said, our team does a great job of providing resources and keeping us up to date.

Q: How do you see the role of applicators evolving in the future, and what new technologies or techniques do you think will be important in the years ahead?

A: I think the role of applicators will evolve in the future to more autonomous farm equipment where one applicator may run more than one piece of equipment at a time. I also think we will continue to see more drones getting involved in agriculture, which is exciting to think about.

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