Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Prepare fields, plant, cultivate, maintain, harvest and store grain and field crops, including rice, cotton, corn, and soybeans by hand or machine. Operate tractor, tractor-drawn machinery and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow, and fertilize soil or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, shears, and knives. Create and maintain levees. Set up and remove levy gates, check rice fields daily for water levels, end of season draining of fields with shovels, receiving of rice crop for drying and storage at drying grain facility, clean grain bins, surrounding site, grain pits and work areas, disposal of spoiled grain from pit and elevator area; chop grass out of fields, load cotton bales, pickup and load loose cotton. Hand chop and rogue cotton. Ensure hoppers are filled properly in mechanical harvesting. Till soil. Transplant, weed or thin crops. Clean, pack, and load harvested products. Repair fences and farm buildings. Participate in irrigation activities, including setting up and operating irrigation equipment, clearing and maintaining irrigation ditches. Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops. Workers will unload grain bins and load into trucks. Maintain farm vehicles and agricultural equipment. Licensed drivers may transport workers and may be offered additional hours. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, 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. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker's performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property. In assessing whether workers' performance meets reasonable expectations, employer 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.

Special Requirements

Three months of row crop farm work experience required Perform extensive walking, sitting, pushing, pulling and prolonged lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. and climb 6-50 footladders. Work in adverse weather conditions. Hazardous occupation. Must be 18 or older. Drug testing is conducted post-accident as required by workers compensation policy and is at the employer's expense.