Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Including, but not limited to the following:
Beans, Beet, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Chilis, Cilantro, Cucumber, Dill, Eggplant, Gourds, Green Onion, Greens, Hard Squash, Herbs, Corn, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Okra, Onion, Parsley, Pepper, Pickle, Potato, Pumpkins, Radish, Squash, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnips, Watermelon.
Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies.

Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, fork lifts, skid loaders, and pick-up trucks. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction.

Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Install and remove levee gates.

Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Mix and apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Build/repair fences.

Work in greenhouses. Operate and work on seeding production lines. Operate greenhouse irrigation and other equipment. Move plants and materials for greenhouse production.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from 10 to over 100 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job.

Work as a mechanic. Perform maintenance, fabrication, and other mechanical tasks on vehicles, production equipment, packing equipment, tractors, wagons, and farming implements. May perform work in shop as incident to or in conjunction with such farming operation.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Shorts, bathing suits or other casual clothing not permitted. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start 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 be required to drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may be asked to drive other workers.

Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

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. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. 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.

TERMINATION.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable agricultural field work experience working in a farm handling both manual and mechanized tasks including operating agricultural equipment. Workers must be able to perform manual and mechanized tasks with accuracy and efficiency. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.