Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Drive tractors and operate other mechanized farm equipment to plant, cultivate, and harvest soybeans and rice. 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, 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. Load seed into hoppers and assist with mechanical soybean planting. Rogue soybean on foot. Remove off-type soybean varieties and other plants using hand tools. Rogue rice fields on foot when fields are under full flood. Remove off-type rice varieties and other plants from each field using hand tools to maintain rice seed purity, in accordance with applicable quality standards. Receive rice crop for drying and storage at drying facility. Clean and sanitize work areas. Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. 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. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Perform manual and mechanized tasks including but not limited to: bush hogging fields; disking; aerating; seeding (using mechanical drills and seeders); fertilizing, weed spraying and mowing. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Build/repair fences. Using the employers vehicles, licensed drivers may transport workers, supplies/materials and/or haul grain and may be offered additional hours. 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.

Special Requirements

Three months experience operating agricultural eqiupment required. Work outside in inclement weather conditions. Sit, bend, stoop, reach, push and/or pull repetitively. Lift, carry and load up to 60 lbs. Must be 18 years or older.