Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Farm work: Sugarcane (70%) and Soybeans (30%).
Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest sugarcane and soybeans by hand or machine. Operate farm vehicles, equipment, tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self propelled machinery. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers and machetes. Till soil and apply fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Prepare fields by chopping and reconstructing rows with machinery. Workers will walk, stoop, or kneel when planting sugarcane by hand. Work in groups to plant sugarcane while walking behind and keeping up with a moving wagon. 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. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalk segments and pick up dropped sugarcane in fields. Properly load seed into hopper. Rogue soybean fields by walking fields on foot to remove undesirable off type soybean varieties and unacceptable weeds using a hoe, shovel or machete. Walk fields to check on and maintain adequate water supply to crops. Use shovels to dig drainage ditches. Repair fences and farm buildings. Clean, using steam cleaner or high pressure water hose, repair and maintain equipment, farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. Perform general farm maintenance including weed and grass control. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Use mowers and weed eaters around buildings and farm equipment. Workers with a valid license and doctors certificate may transport other workers on and off the farm and may be offered additional hours. Assist in 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 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 an unpaid 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. 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; (3) has treated company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.

Special Requirements

Three months of commercial experience on a sugarcane farm operating agricultural equipment required. Perform prolonged sitting, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying and loading up to 50 lbs. repetitively and work outside in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather. Must be 18 or older. Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employers expense and is not part of the interview process.