Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

All workers will be required to operate and maintain farm machinery utilized in lettuce production to include GPS steering assisted tractors, electronic driven seeders with variable speed motors, liquid storage tank and hydraulic motors, irrigation pumps with chlorine injection systems, irrigation pumps for flood irrigation, spray tractors with on board computer for field and crop row identification, sprayer controls of volume, pressure, and individual spray nozzle aperture, sophisticated crop protection netting equipment and custom-made lettuce harvesters with hydrostatic driven and computer controlled capabilities.

Utilize onboard tractor computers, by selecting programs, in putting field data, modify operational parameters and execute commands.

Understand the concepts of tractor speed, land area, pressure and volume of liquids in spraying systems

Assist a team of workers on the correct operation of specialized farm machinery that is used to plant, irrigate, fertilize, spray, maintain, install, and remove vertical frog prevention net and crop protective netting with metal supports and harvest lettuce.

Calibrate, maintain, and adjust custom-made farming equipment.

Adjust lettuce production equipment to include lettuce harvesters cutting head, speeds of cutters, blowers, and conveyors according to type, height, weight, and condition of the lettuce being harvested and contour of the terrain.

Install, maintain, and operate high pressure water pumps and sprinkler irrigation systems.

Operate and maintain large water pumps for flood irrigation and weed control and soil conservation.

Preform all task required for the establishment, maintenance, and irrigation of cover crops, such as land preparation, seeding, weed control and flood irrigation.

Participate in soil conservation and erosion control practices.

Evaluate in collaboration with supervisor fields condition and determine the equipment required to perform all task to include land preparation, seeding, irrigation, spraying, protective net installation with metal support and daily harvest.

Coordinate equipment use in the fields.

Ensure the farming machinery under their responsibility are in good condition and verify daily inspection sheets.

Ensure that designated personnel make minor repairs.

Report all problematic situations to supervisors.

Clean and check machinery prior to use or storage.

Disassemble or assemble farm machinery and equipment as required at the beginning or end of the season.

Pack, crate, load and unload farm machinery and equipment as required for storage or transport to another farm for use when seasonal lettuce production in Florida is not possible.

Follow good agricultural practices and safe working practices.

Use personal protective equipment as required by employer.

Three months of experience in the job duties is required

Special Requirements

Three months (3) of Agricultural Equipment Operating Experience is required.