Ag Equipment Operator/trucking

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
apples.
Drive semi tractor-trailer truck to/from delivery or pickup destinations. Regularly climb into and out of trucks and trailers. Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order. Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure. Secure cargo for transport using cargo straps. Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy. Maneuver trucks into and out of loading and unloading positions. Load-unload trailers and cargo. Handle equipment and cargo carefully to prevent damage. Interact with roadway officials. Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspection and paperwork on trucks and trailers. Clean/maintain lights, windows, and mirrors, and vehicle exterior. Add engine oil and fuel as needed. Must be able to drive in rain, snow, and other hazardous conditions as needed. Drive in both on-road (paved) and off-road conditions. May drive other vehicle types. Read/comprehend traffic signage and directions.

Load and unload agricultural products or crops onto trucks, drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, and/or equipment/supplies to other Fowler Brothers farm locations, Fowler Brothers storage facilities, or Fowler Brothers packing house on private or public roads. Drive 6 wheel (Straight truck under 26K lb.) 10 wheel (straight truck over 26K lbs) or 18-wheel truck(s) (Over 26k lbs.) with Farm Use tags. This is a transfer/shuttle of plants or fruit from Fowler Brothers farm to Fowler Brothers farm/packing house so that the agricultural crops may be sorted and/or grouped for sale. Does not deliver to customers.

Additonal tasks that will be required are the following:

Manually plant and cultivate apples; use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears and knives. Duties include tilling soil, transplanting, weeding, thinning or pruning; applying fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
Identify plants, pests and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Inform farm managers of crop progress. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields or costs.
Prune trees seasonally to promote optimum growth of tree and fruit. Gather pruned branches from area for disposal. Perform pruning and suckering by cutting terminal growth and water sprouts from inside of tree using hand pruner. Thins trees from orchard to eliminate diseased or nonproductive trees using chain saw. Drive/operate utility vehicles and row crop tractors.

Machine Operation: Under direction of management, workers will operate farm equipment to till soil and to plant, cultivate, spray and aid in the production and harvest of apples. Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify management when machinery malfunctions.
Workers will make sure bins are clean and free of debris before placing harvested apples into the bins. Workers will load the bins onto the rail using a tractor. Worker places ladder firmly against or within tree in a secure position so as not to break limbs or knock off fruit and to prevent slipping or falling. All fruit is to be handled with care to avoid bruising. Fruit injured by bruising during picking shall not exceed 1% (WNY) for fresh and 1% (WNY) for processing. Each worker's picked fruit will be inspected according to instructions given each day by the orchard foreman. Workers will be directed to strip all fruit from tree at one picking or to spot pick (selective picking) according to size and color depending on crop conditions and state of maturity. Fruit picked as drops is never mixed with tree fruit. Worker places ladder firmly against or within tree in a secure position so as not to break limbs or knock off fruit and to prevent slipping or falling.

Workers may be asked to perform nursery work which will include budding, care of nursery trees, grafting and weeding as directed by management.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of six months of verifiable agricultural field work experience handling tasks including driving/servicing tractor unit and semi-trailer. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug and alcohol testing required after an accident at work. Clean driving record required. Must have or be able to obtain driver's license within 30 days of hire. class D license (state license) required.