Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest sugarcane by hand (5%) or machine (95%). Operate farm vehicles, equipment, tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers and machetes. Till soil and apply fertilizers. Workers will walk, stoop, or kneel when planting sugarcane by hand. Work in groups to plant sugarcane while walking behind moving wagon. Remove pre-cut sugarcane stalks from supply trailer and manually place and straighten predetermined numbers of sugarcane stalks into an open furrow at specific intervals/overlaps. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalk segments and pick up dropped sugarcane in fields. Properly load seed into hopper. Repair farm buildings. Clean, using steam cleaner or high pressure water hose, repair and maintain equipment, farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. Perform general farm maintenance including weed and grass control. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Use mowers and weed eaters around buildings and farm equipment. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours. Assist in 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.

During the harvest season work will begin at 6:00 am.
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 verifiable experience operating agricultural eqiupment. Sit, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull for prolonged periods of time. Lift, carry and load up to 50 lbs. repetitively and work outside in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather. Employer is a drug free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process. Must be 18 years of age or older.