Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Farm work: corn, soybeans, rice.
Perform manual labor to rogue and irrigate crops by hand and operate equipment to plant and harvest crops for seed production, including rice, soybeans and corn. Clean grain bins and equipment at elevator to comply with stringent state regulations. To ensure the purity of the selected rice varieties for seed production, rogue rice fields under full flood by walking through fields and removing undesirable off type rice varieties and other indigenous off type plants from each field by hand or using a hoe, shovel, or machete. These fields must pass inspection by the Mississippi Seed Improvement Association. Load seed on farm equipment for planting. Rogue soybean and cornfields by walking through fields and removing undesirable off type soybean and corn varieties and weeds by hand or using a hoe, shovel or machete. Maintain rice levees. Put down spillway openings, drain excess water, remove levee gates and regulate proper water depth in rice fields. Rice, soybean and corn crops will be checked to maintain adequate water supply. Set up and maintain irrigation equipment for flood and furrow irrigation on all crops. Operate farm vehicles, equipment and implements to plant, cultivate and harvest crops in the field and at the grain bins and elevators. Use brooms, blowers, shovels and vacuum cleaning devices to clean trucks, pits, rice carts, combines and other equipment to comply with stringent seed production inspection standards by the state. Use mowers and weed eaters around wells, buildings, farm equipment and grain bins. As a minor activity, assist with minor repairs and maintenance. 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. 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 commodities between employer's farms and grain bins and elevators, supplies, tools and/or equipment between employer's farm locations, on private or public roads. Workers will drive multi-purpose vehicles that have a capacity of less than 13 tons, require a standard driver's license to operate, and may be used on or off farm by the workers (e.g., drive to the grocery store, bank, etc. at their discretion). Workers are not required or expected to arrange for the routine pick-up of another worker or
groups of workers on a regular schedule at other housing locations or centralized pick-up points.

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. 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. Workers will have a paid lunch break.

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.

Special Requirements

Twelve months of operating agricultural equipment experience required. Endure extensive sitting, bending, reaching, walking, performing repetitive movements, lifting and carrying up to 30 lbs. Work in extreme hot and/or cold temperatures.