Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Prepare fields, plant, cultivate, maintain, harvest and store grain and field crops, including rice, cotton, corn, and soybeans by hand or machine. Operate tractor, tractor-drawn machinery and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow, and fertilize soil or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, shears, and knives. Create and maintain levees. Set up and remove levy gates, check rice fields daily for water levels, end of season draining of fields with shovels, receiving of rice crop for drying and storage at drying grain facility, clean grain bins, surrounding site, grain pits and work areas, disposal of spoiled grain from pit and elevator area; chop grass out of fields, load cotton bales, pickup and load loose cotton. Hand chop and rogue cotton. Ensure hoppers are filled properly in mechanical harvesting. Till soil. Transplant, weed or thin crops. Clean, pack, and load harvested products. Repair fences and farm buildings. Participate in irrigation activities, including setting up and operating irrigation equipment, clearing and maintaining irrigation ditches. Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops. Workers will unload grain bins and load into trucks. Maintain farm vehicles and agricultural equipment. Licensed drivers may transport workers and may be offered additional hours. Assist with 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 reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

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 should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employer’s recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences. Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company premises is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination.

Special Requirements

Three months of row crop farm work experience required. Perform extensive walking, sitting, pushing, pulling and prolonged lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. and climb 6-50 ladders. Work in adverse weather conditions. Hazardous occupation. Must be 18 or older. Drug testing is conducted post-accident as required by workers compensation policy and is at the employer's expense.