Farmworker, Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Plant, cultivate, and harvest corn, ryegrass, sorghum and alfalfa. Operate farm vehicles and agricultural equipment. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil; applying fertilizers and pesticides; combining chemicals; weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; loading and unloading harvested products. Repair and maintain fences and farm buildings. Participate in irrigation activities. As a minor activity, attend to livestock. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, dehorning, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Haul agricultural commodities including manure and crops. As a minor activity, assist with minor repairs and maintenance on agricultural equipment. Clean and maintain fields, work areas and grounds. Clean and sanitize equipment.
Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, wasp, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two-day trial period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the trial period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. During the trial period, employer assesses whether the worker’s performance was consistent with the employer’s reasonable expectations, and evaluates, among other reasonable criteria, whether the worker: (1) has adequately complied with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures; (2) has complied with all health and safety guidelines, including the use of tools or equipment in accordance with best practices to protect the employer's property, crops, and in a manner that avoids injury or damage; (3) has treated company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.), with care and respect, avoiding damage or improper cleanliness or maintenance standards; (4) has timely and consistently followed instructions duly communicated by supervisors, crew leaders, and management personnel; (5) has maintained appropriate quality standards in the performance of work (i.e., not just the quantity of work performed, but whether the worker has qualitatively performed his or her duties with the skill and proficiency necessary for the employer to produce a marketable product); (6) has maintained a positive and respectful attitude when engaging with supervisors, management, other workers, and/or customers; (7) has reported to work on time and remained at work for the agreed-upon work hours unless such absence was excused or the worker timely communicated and sought approval for any deviation from such schedule; (8) has made good faith, diligent efforts to maintain performance in the workplace (i.e., has not purposefully or intentionally loafed or acted in a recalcitrant manner, taken excessive breaks

Special Requirements

Three months of experience operating agricultural equipment. Walk, stoop, bend, reach, lift and carry up to 60 lbs. and sit for prolonged periods of time. Work in inclement weather conditions. A Class E license (or equivalent) and valid DOT doctors certificate are required to operate farm vehicles. Potential applicants must be eligible to obtain a DOT doctors certificate and Class E drivers license. Workers that do not already have the doctors certificate and/or Class E license must start the process immediately upon starting work. The employer will pay for any related expenses. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may also drive transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours.