Agricultural Equipment/sprayer Operator

Job description

Crops/Commodities: corn, alfalfa/grass hay, soybeans, wheat, vegetables, peas, sorghum, triticale, clover, fescue, oats, sunflowers.
Custom Applicator (Farm Labor Contractor).
Drive tractors and operate sprayers in the custom application (including drop tubing, side dressing and high clearance application) of liquid fertilizer and crop protection products (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides), as well as seed application.

Perform manual and mechanized tasks including but not limited to: fertilizing, weed spraying and mowing

Equipment may include tractors, mowers, sprayers, skid loaders, high lifts, and trucks or other vehicles.

Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Clean, adjust, repair, and perform routine service on equipment (e.g., lubricating grease points, inspecting and maintaining fluid levels, checking belt and conveyor tensions, and maintaining tires, wheels, bearings, belts, and other wear parts). Repair or replace defective parts. Attach farm implements (e.g., plows, harrows, discs, sprayers) using hand tools. May assist with other general farm maintenance or repairs.

Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions.

Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products and property. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Outdoor work required when plants are wet, or during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours may vary. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Work is done outdoors for long periods of time and requires prolonged periods of standing and/or walking, repetitive movements, and frequent bending and/or stooping. Workers must be able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects (product, containers) in accordance with the specified lifting requirements.

Employer requires all newly-hired employees to take and pass an employer-paid drug test before starting work. Drug test not required for prospective applicants prior to hiring decision. All testing is conducted uniformly after an initial job offer has been extended and accepted by the new hire. Workers testing positive for illegal drugs will be immediately terminated and paid for all hours worked between the first date of employment and the date of termination, if any. In the case of a non-local or foreign worker who is terminated for failure to pass a drug test, the employer will arrange least-cost transportation to the worker's place of recruitment, at the worker's expense.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and possessing or able to obtain an insurable driver's license may drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses may transport other workers to and from employer-provided housing directly to worksites each day and may transport workers around farms during the workday, may transport crops, supplies, tools and/or equipment between farm locations, on private or public roads. Workers do not deliver to customers.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 12 months of verifiable agricultural experience handling both manual and mechanized tasks including operating agricultural equipment. 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 pre-employment and post-hire drug testing required. Workers with clean driving record and/or insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles.