Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest hay. Prepare land for planting using a machine to clear and level fields and till soil. Stack bales in field. Carry supplies including bags and baling wire to the field. Load and unload seed and/or fertilizer. Attach farm implements, such as a plow, disc, and drill to tractor. Repair and maintain farm equipment and implements. Maintain and repair fences and farm buildings. Use brooms, blowers, shovels and vacuum cleaning devices to clean trucks and other equipment. Use mowers and weed eaters on employer’s premises around wells, buildings, farm equipment. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. Harvest and cut hay. Load and unload bales of hay. Plant grass. Herd livestock to pasture for grazing. Examine livestock to detect diseases and injuries, assist with herding livestock into corral and/or stall or manually restraining animal on the range and assist with vaccinations, castration, clipping identifying notches on or branding livestock, applying medicine to cuts and bruises and spraying cattle with insecticide. Set up and move corrals. Load and unload feed sacks. Preparing and sanitizing pens, barns and houses for upcoming flocks. Monitoring flock behavior to detect any signs of illness. Distributing feed. Removal of injured, sick or dead birds. Assist with all 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 experience operating agricultural equipment required. Work will be performed in extremely hot, cold and/or wet conditions. Walk, bend, reach, stoop, stand, and lift up to 60 lbs repeatedly for prolonged periods of time. Drug testing is conducted randomly as required by workers compensation policy and is at the employer's expense, and is not part of the interview process.