Agriculture Equipment Operator

Job description

Operate machinery or manually prepare fields, plant, cultivate and harvest corn, cotton, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, grain sorghum, and cattle. Operate, repair, and maintain farm vehicles and equipment. Load seed into hoppers. Hand chop and rogue cotton. Load cotton bales. Pick up and load loose cotton. Shovel peanuts onto conveyor. Cover harvested peanuts with tarps. Carry supplies including bags and baling wire to the field. Set plants in rows. Transplant or replant tobacco as needed. Take care to prevent bruising or breaking plants. Assemble and maintain shade tents. Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Mow, cut, and weed fields. 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. Load and unload product and supplies/materials. Stack and unstack pallets. Equipment may include tractors, dozers, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, forklifts, 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. Use hand tools including but not limited to rakes, hoes, tractors, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Clean and maintain work areas, vehicles, fences, building and equipment. Loading, shipping, hauling and maintenance of grain bins. As minor duties workers may feed and water cattle, build fences, or transport cattle to different fields. Workers that have/obtain proper documentation/licenses may haul product as directed by supervisor. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive employer's vans or other transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours. As a minor activity, if needed, workers may assist with the feeding and general maintenance of cattle. 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. 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. All workers will be subject to a 2 day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks.

Special Requirements

3 months Agriculture Equipment Operation Workers will lift, carry and load product weighing up to 50 pounds. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive sitting. Must be 18 years or older.