Ag Maintenance Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities: wheat, corn, soybeans and milo.

Perform a variety of seasonal agricultural duties related to crop harvest, grain handling, transportation, and equipment maintenance. Support wheat harvest in early summer, fall harvest of corn, soybeans, and milo, and post-harvest grain hauling and storage operations during winter months.

Assist with operating agricultural equipment used in harvesting and grain transportation, including John Deere S780 combines and grain carts operated with John Deere 8R 370 tractors. Assist with driving semi-trucks with hopper bottom trailers equipped with manual transmissions to transport grain from fields to on-farm storage facilities and from storage to grain elevators or buyers. Semi-trucks are 26,001+ lbs GVW, Straight Trucks 26,001+ lbs GVW, Straight Trucks under 26,001 lbs GVW, or pickup trucks with no CDL required. Interact with roadway officials. Read/comprehend traffic signage and directions. Drive truck to/from delivery drop off or pickup destinations.

Handling grain at bin facilities, loading trucks, documenting loads, monitoring grain bins and grain handling systems, shipping and receiving grain, filling grain bags during harvest, and retrieving grain from grain bags after harvest. Coordinate grain movement from field to storage and from storage to market while ensuring accurate load documentation and grain facility operations. The operation utilizes two grain bin facilities that receive and ship over 500 truckloads of grain annually, requiring coordinated grain hauling, grain storage monitoring, and facility operations throughout harvest and post-harvest periods.

Equipment maintenance and repair for mechanical and farm equipment. Provide routine maintenance on combines, tractors, sprayers, trucks, grain trailers, implements, and grain storage facilities. Workers will need to inspect, operate, and test machinery or equipment by troubleshooting and diagnosing machine malfunctions to ensure optimal performance. After diagnosis, the worker will need to determine how to correct them, check the equipment blueprints, repair manuals, or part catalogs, as necessary. Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery. These inspections will also include power equipment servicing which will require maintaining or repairing the equipment or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices. If necessary, the worker will need to know how to dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools. Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing. Clean/sanitize equipment.

Workers will be loading trucks, documenting loads, and performing general facility maintenance. Prepare, fertilize, and till irrigated farm ground for planting. Provide groundskeeping services, such as landscaping or snow removal when needed.

Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products and property. Workers must be able to safely operate farm equipment, assist with grain handling tasks, perform general agricultural labor, and support seasonal harvest and grain transportation operations. 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.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural experience handling both manual and mechanized tasks including operating agricultural equipment. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing required.