Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest sugarcane and soybeans by hand or machine. Operate farm vehicles, equipment, tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, self-propelled machinery, and other agricultural machinery to till, plow, harrow, and fertilize soil and to plant, cultivate, spray, harvest, and load crops. Use hand tools such as shovels, hoes, tampers, knives, and machetes to transplant, weed, and rogue crops. Apply fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, equipment, and machinery. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalk segments. Walk behind field wagon in groups and remove pre-cut sugarcane stalks from supply trailer and manually place and straighten predetermined numbers of sugarcane stalks into an open furrow at specific intervals/overlaps. Follow harvester on foot through the field picking up dropped cane. Rogue soybean fields by walking fields on foot to remove undesirable off type soybean varieties and unacceptable weeds. Lift and carry 50 lb. sacks of seed and properly load seed into hopper. Participate in irrigation activities, such as setting up and operating irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Walk fields to check on and maintain adequate water supply to crops. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Clean equipment using steam cleaner or high pressure water hose. Perform general farm maintenance including weed and grass control. Licensed drivers may drive trucks or other vehicles to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers on or off the farm, 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;

Special Requirements

Requires 3 months of experience in operating agricultural equipment. Requires extensive sitting, walking, pushing, pulling, reaching, kneeling, bending and stooping. Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Climb 8 ft ladder to clean equipment. Work outside in hot, cold and/or wet weather conditions. Must be 18 years of age or older.