manager, estimates that to be about
100,000 pounds of chemicals a day.
Jackson helps oversee that process.
He ensures all of the raw materials
and procedures are ready to be met
before production begins.
Ewing ensures workers know
the proper safety procedures.
“Probably a better title for it is
compliance director, so my job is
really to make sure we stay in com-
pliance with all regulations whether
it be OSHA, EPA, DOT, etc.,” Ewing
said. “And then just make sure we
have a very good safety culture and
everybody leaves work the way they
Corteva Agriscience front office in Valdosta.
came to work.”
Safety of the employees is im-
portant to Corteva, but according to
evolving as the research and develop-
Johnson, the safety of the environment
ment pipeline pumps out new products
This plant site is
is also a major concern within their
for the site to make every year.
procedures.
growing. We’re
This ever-changing environment
“When you look at safety, it’s not
leaves room for much growth and de-
bringing new
just employees but the safety of the envi-
velopment within the company.
products in, we’re Warzynski came to the company as
ronment, the safety of the community,”
Johnson said. “Good environmental
a contract worker but stayed after he
hiring, there’s
stewardship is one of the things that’s
found opportunities to grow, learn and
significant
very key to us.”
expand his knowledge base.
investment.
Corteva also trains farmers how to
“Eventually, as you’re moving your-
properly use their sprays with in-the-
self into a better position in life you
field training and has been making
are moving the company into a better
strides within the company’s research and development
position as well,” Warzynski said.
teams across the nation to use less for the same effect.
Jackson has worked at the site long enough to watch
The “mode of action,” as Johnson puts it, is the way
three companies take ownership of the site and has seen
a pesticide or fungicide is applied to a crop and using
34 years worth of research and development in the field
new modes of action have helped develop some of the
of chemical engineering.
new products being made at the site.
“I’ve met a lot of good people over the years here.
New sprays are now applied to the seeds of the crop
And I continue to grow— never stopped learning over
making them immune from planting till harvest. This
the years.”
new mode of action has eliminated the need for reappli-
For Johnson, the goal of the site is to continue offer-
cation throughout the growing season.
ing new products and see what the next best thing will
“Over the years, we’ve come up with ways of
be for the farmer.
using less and less per acre,” Ewing said. “We’re using
“It’s exciting that we’re a new company but look at
very small amounts compared to even five or even 10
the history we have behind us with Dow and Dupont,”
years ago to stop the same infestation that 10 years ago
Johnson said. “There’s a lot of great products that we
would’ve required five times more product.”
already started with and we’re continuing to make new
Ewing said he is proud of the team and the prod-
products under the Corteva name.”
ucts they make here. He said the job is continually
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