Farm Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Corn and Soy Bean.
Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays):
Drive tractors, and operate other mechanized farm equipment to plant, cultivate, and harvest grain crops. Manually sort sweet corn crop. Perform manual and mechanized tasks including but not limited to: bushhogging fields; disking; aerating; seeding (using mechanical drills and seeders); fertilizing, weed spraying, mowing. Operate grain carts. Cleaning and maintaining grain bins. Drainage repair and installation.

Mow, cut, and weed fields, ditches and farm property. Prepare and/or clear land for planting using mechanized or hand equipment to remove trash, rocks, or other debris or material that may interfere with planting or harvesting activities. Level land by moving dirt and other materials. Equipment may include tractors, dozers, planters, augers, seed drills, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chainsaws, bobcats, skid loaders, high lifts, and trucks or other vehicles.
Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Adjust speeds of cutters, blowers, and conveyors and height of cutting head. Clean, adjust, repair, and perform routine service on equipment (e.g., lubricating grease points, inspecting, and maintaining fluid levels, checking belt and conveyor tensions, and maintaining tires, wheels, bearings, belts, and other wear parts). Repair or replace defective parts. Attach farm implements (e.g., plows, harrows, discs, sprayers) using hand tools. May assist with other general farm maintenance or repairs including fences and facilities.

Dig and maintain ditches manually or with a backhoe or scraper. Installation and maintenance of underground drainage tile.

Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate, and crop conditions.

Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products, and property. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable footwear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Outdoor work required when plants are wet, or during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity, and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours may vary. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Workers must be able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects (product, containers) in accordance with the specified lifting requirements.

Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses may transport other workers to-and-from employer provided housing directly to worksites each day and transporting workers between employer worksites during the workday and possibly carrying equipment/supplies and this may involve the worker(s) operating the vehicles across public roads in order to reach the other farm properties to perform their work. Workers are driving multi-purpose vehicles that have a capacity of less than 13 tons, require a standard driver's license to operate, may be used on or off farm by the workers (e.g., drive to the grocery store, bank, etc. at their discretion).

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural experience working in a grain/oilseed farm handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Additional hours may be offered during planting and harvesting times. Endure extensive sitting, walking, prolonged bending and reaching, continuous lifting and carrying of up to 60 lbs., working in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather, climbing grain bins and working in an elevated environment. Must be 18 or older. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work.