Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
sugar cane.
Drive and repair cane harvesters, dump wagons and other mechanized, electrically powered or motor-driven equipment on farms or in farm equipment repair shops. Workers will operate the farm machinery, equipment and vehicles. Workers will be instructed in the safety and operation of the equipment before driving the equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate equipment, with or without direction, in a manner that protects the operator, visitors, other employees, crops, trees, facilities and equipment. Failure to comply with operating and safety standards may result in termination. This is a very demanding and competitive business in which quality specifications must be rigorously adhered to. The equipment workers will be operating and maintaining is expensive and dangerous. Workers are expected to follow the employer's requests to not only prevent damage to the equipment, but to also prevent injuries to workers. Any equipment damaged by a worker's failure to follow instructions or damaged due to malice will be charged to the worker. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.

Perform routine maintenance on the farm equipment. Examine and listen to machines, motors, gasoline and diesel engines and equipment for operational defects and dismantles defective units, using hand-tools. Repairs or replaces defective parts, using hand tools and shop tools.

Replace components, such as carburetors, fuel pumps, generators, ignition points and spark plugs. Reassemble, adjust and lubricate machines and equipment to ensure efficient operation. May install and repair wiring and motors to maintain farm electrical system. May assist other workers in more complex maintenance tasks, such as overhaul of machinery and equipment. May assemble and erect new farm machinery and equipment.

Plant and harvest sugarcane. Prepare fields for planting. Hand plant sugarcane in rows at designated intervals. Drain excess water from fields. Chop/segment sugarcane stalks with machetes or other tools as directed by employer. Operate and control sugarcane combine, and/or follow harvester on foot through field and pick up dropped sugarcane. Operate tractors pulling loaded fuel tank to burn raw sugarcane. Load and unload harvested sugarcane. Transport harvested sugar cane on farm. Before moving their assigned tractor on the farm, the operator will complete a pre-trip inspection of the tractor, including adding engine fluid, changing the oil, checking brakes and tires, and cleaning filters. Once the raw sugarcane crop is cut, meaning the sugarcane stalks are severed from their roots by a self-powered mechanical harvesting machine, the sugarcane is mechanically deposited into the field cart that is moved by the tractor to a location within the growing field for loading. The operator is not hauling the harvested sugarcane off the farm. They are moving it by tractor to a location for loading. At the end of the shift, the tractor driver will make sure that the tractor is clean and ready for the next worker.

Supervise agricultural workers performing crop production and machine operation activities. Assign daily work duties, train workers in planting, cultivating, or harvesting techniques. Train workers on safety protocols and safe equipment handling/operation. Perform quality control inspections on products. Observe workers to detect inefficient or unsafe work procedures. Review work to evaluate timeliness and proficiency. Direct or assist with repair of farm equipment or machinery. Prepare reports on production and crop yield. Supervise chemical application and other work activities associated with crop production.

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

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable prior experience performing duties associated with operating and performing routine maintenance on agricultural equipment. 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. Employer-paid drug and alcohol testing required.