Agricultural Equipment Operator
Employer
3074 RT 9
VALATIE, NY 12184
United States
Job description
Operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (whether on or off farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday (including on public roads to reach farmer’s fields and/or transport workers to the grocery store, or bank on an as-needed basis. Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities. Not all workers are requested to drive; drivers will be required to possess a valid operators license. No one will be rejected for the position that does not possess a class D license. Drives and operates farm machinery to plant, cultivate, spray and/or harvest apples. Attaches farm implements to tractor and drive tractor in fields to prepare soil, plant, fertilize, mow, spray and/or harvest crops. Make adjustments and minor repairs to machinery. May mix chemicals ingredients and spray fruit trees to control insects, fungus, weeds, or diseases. May remove excess growth using pruning saws and clippers. May irrigate soil. May pick fruit during harvest. May thin blossoms and immature fruit. May prop limbs to prevent breakage. May operate frost protection equipment. Must be physically able to lift up to 75lbs on a consistent basis throughout the day. Due to health and safety concerns relating to pesticide application and operation of equipment on our farm, workers are required to have proficient English language skills. A minimum of three months verifiable experience necessary in the aforementioned. 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 to be handled with care to avoid causing bruising. Fruit injured by bruising during picking shall not exceed 4% as defined in the U.S. standard for grades. 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. May also perform any combination of tasks involved in planting, cultivating, and harvesting of crops such as tilling soil, planting stock, pruning , removing suckers and runners from trees, vines, and plants. Other duties may include laying out irrigation pipe and installing sprinklers, assisting in repairing fences, loading and unloading trucks, clearing fields, burning brush, hand thinning fruit and smudging. Will repair, paint, sanitize, marking of bins, picking buckets & ladders. Will use appropriate tools such as shovels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks and shears. Employer will furnish to workers, without cost, all tools and equipment required in the performance of the duties assigned. Workers should report for work with their own suitable work clothing. Field temperatures may range from 30 degrees to 85 degrees with possible wet morning conditions. May press cider from harvested fruit and bag or box harvested fruit for roadside stand. May clean, lubricate and adjust farm machinery. Employer may conduct/require random drug or alcohol tests at employer?s expense after hiring, for the safety of themselves and others as they will be operating machinery. Failure to comply with request or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in termination.
Special Requirements
A minimum productivity standard applies: The employer will expect the workers to pick a minimum of 70 bu boxes of Apples/Harvest Fresh Market per day.
Workers hired under this order will be required to show evidence of right to work in the United States.
Workers must be able to demonstrate that they are physically able to perform the work specified in this Job Order.
The employer assures that workers hired under this order who will be handling pesticide will be provided appropriate training.
The employer will not guarantee to pay the workers a bonus but reserves the right, at the employers sole discretion, to offer a bonus or to pay an hourly wage rate in excess of the highest applicable rate stated above based on longevity of employment or exceptional job performance.