Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Job duties under our Agricultural Equipment operator contract will consist of activities associated with Farm Worker, Diversified Crops, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Job Description 45-2091 and 45-2092: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse job under the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Agricultural Equipment operator and Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse.

• Provide assistance in the establishment and maintenance of orchard properties by operating equipment use for:

Clearing property: Operate equipment used in the clearing/preparation of farming land for future use or replant

Planting trees: Operate equipment used in the planting of trees, bushes, or grape plants in a specific block or field

Harvesting nursery trees: Operating the equipment used to dig up nursery trees from one of our Zirkle Fruit Company on farm nurseries

Trellis installation: Operate equipment used for the installation/assembly of trellis

Installation/spring opening/fall closing of shade cloth, bird netting, and/or windscreen: Operate the various equipment used to install/repair or to open and shut these systems for the growing season. This job may require the use of platforms and/or ladders to move up and down while attaching shade cloth to wires.

• Operating and maintenance of irrigation systems: Irrigation systems installation, assembly, and maintenance includes trenching, digging, pipe cutting and gluing. May require either the use of (electronic valves) or manual requirement of opening and closing valves in order to properly operate the irrigation system. Will require the flushing out and start up procedures for ensuring all irrigation systems are flushed, tested and ready for spring frost control and early season irrigation. It also requires the winterization of the irrigation systems with the use of large air compressors to blow the excess moisture from the system. May include where applicable, the application of fertigation through the irrigation system. May also include operation of our irrigation systems for spring (and possibly fall) frost control and protection.

• Irrigation systems spring start-up, fall winterization flush-out process, and summer over-head cooling systems unplugging may require assistance from our general labor workforce to assist the irrigation team in these processes, due to the number of workers needed to properly accomplish these three procedures. (While the irrigation team operates the system and valves, the General labor would assist in the opening and closing of the ends of the lines to flush them out and the unplugging of the overhead system when additional assistance is needed). All jobs done under the supervision of the irrigation supervisor.

• Install, maintain, and operate irrigation systems and water lines as instructed by Irrigation Supervisor. Repair sprinklers and overhead cooling systems. Move and install pipes, dig, and maintain irrigation ditches, install and remove levee gates. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Unplug sprinklers/foggers as needed in the day-to-day performance of their duties.

Special Requirements

Workers must have three-month experience in manual task and machine operation including heavy lifting, associated with commodity production.

Use of ladders up to 12 feet in height is required for, irrigation Workers must possess proficiency in handling ladders, climbing and working on ladders safely. Workers will be expected to use all equipment in a safe and prudent manner to avoid injury. Workers must not lean ladders into trees, lean off to one side of the ladder, or stand on the last two steps of the ladder. Workers must not climb tree and should use a ladder. If a Worker is unsure of how to use a ladder safely, he or she must notify a crew leader or supervisor.

Workers must have the ability to perform the tasks as described in Item A8a-A11 Job specifications.