Equipment Operator

Job description

Workers will be required to operate many different types of farm machinery that are used during soil preparation, manure application, and harvesting a variety of crops. Crops include, but not limited to, alfalfa, corn, and other forage. Mechanical skills and the ability to safely operate farm machinery including forklifts, tractors, mowers, and other farm machinery are required. Workers will be required to operate equipment according to instructions and in a manner that protects the operator, other workers, crops, and equipment. Operation requires worker to lift up to 50 pounds. Worker will be required to load and unload crops or materials using conveyors, shovels, forklifts, and augers. Worker will also be required to walk through soft soils to hand pick rocks as part of soil preparation before planting crops.

Vehicle Driving: If worker possess a valid driver's license and is eligible to drive under Michigan law with proof of no infractions from official source. Employer may require worker to drive Employer-provided vehicle to and from the worksite as directed.

Tractor Driving: Worker will be required to drive tractor to and from many different worksites while pulling different attachments used for soil preparation, transporting manure, and transporting crops.

Tillage: Employee will use tillage equipment such as discs, high speed discs, cultivators, in-line rippers, and chisel plows to remove unwanted weeds and prepare soils for the next activities. Worker will be required to adjust and operate the tillage equipment as instructed by supervisor to ensure that the tillage tool is operating in the most efficient way as well as properly prepping the soil for further work. Tillage is a way of breaking compaction, destroying unwanted weeds, and promoting soil health and sustainability.

Manure Application: Worker will mix manure in preparation for application. Worker will also be involved in using a pump or wheel loader to fill a tank or spreader which will then be driven to the field for application as directed by supervisor.

Crop Harvest: Worker will operate a hay mower to cut forage crops. As the crop drying process begins the worker will operate a forage merger to combine several feet of cut crop together into a windrow. Worker may operate a tractor/forage box unit to transport harvested crop from the field to the storage facility. The harvested product will then be transported to a storage area, where it will be dumped into a pile. Worker will be required to transport the crop from the work area to the storage facility using a forage box that will be hooked to a tractor. Worker may assist with additional duties related to crop harvest as directed by supervisor.

Special Requirements

Job requires worker to complete tasks in Equipment Operation.

Experience Requirement: 3 verifiable months of commercial agriculture experience driving farm tractors of minimum 200 horse power required. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the last 3 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Drug test not utilized as pre-employment tool and done at employer's expense.