Equipment Operator

Job description

FARM EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: Workers will be required to operate many different types of farm machinery that are used during soil preparation, manure application, and harvesting a variety of crops. Crops include, but not limited to, alfalfa, corn, and other forage. Mechanical skills and the ability to safely operate farm machinery including forklifts, tractors, mowers, trucks and other farm machinery are required. Workers will be required to operate equipment according to instructions and in a manner that protects the operator, other workers, crops, and equipment. Operation requires worker to lift up to 50 pounds. Worker will be required to load and unload crops or materials using conveyors, shovels, forklifts, and augers. Worker will also be required to walk through soft soils to hand pick rocks as part of soil preparation before planting crops.

Farm Equipment Season Preparation: Worker may be required to help prepare farm equipment for field work and harvesting. Worker may check equipment fluids and change existing engine oil. Workers may grease farm equipment. Worker will revise equipment for any leaks or worn hoses and advise supervisor of any necessary repairs. Worker may help check battery life, air filters, tire pressure, and other parts of farm equipment to ensure equipment is properly ready for season use.

Vehicle driving: Worker required to possess a valid driver’s license and be eligible to drive under Michigan law with proof of no infractions from official source. Employer may require worker to drive Employer-provided vehicle to and from the worksite and to locations within 30 miles as directed.

Tractor driving: Worker will be required to drive tractor to and from many different worksites while pulling different attachments used for harvesting, soil preparation, applying manure, and transporting crops.

Tillage: Employee will use tillage equipment such as discs, high speed discs, cultivators, in-line rippers, and chisel plows to remove unwanted weeds and prepare soils for the next activities. Worker will be required to adjust and operate the tillage equipment as instructed by supervisor to ensure that the tillage tool is operating in the most efficient way as well as properly prepping the soil for further work. Tillage is a way of breaking compaction, destroying unwanted weeds, and promoting soil health and sustainability.

Semi-truck/trailers driving: If worker possesses a valid driver’s license with CDL endorsement and is eligible to drive under Michigan Law with proof of no infractions from an official source, worker may be required to operate different types of semi-trucks and trailers that are used during manure application, planting and harvesting a variety of crops. Worker may be required to drive semi-truck pulling up to a 13,400-gallon tanker, 6 axles or a live floor silage trailer, up to 30 miles for transporting liquid manure or crops. Worker may be required to operate or assist with trailer/tanker loading and unloading. Crops include, but are not limited to, alfalfa, corn and other forages. Worker must have mechanical skills and the ability to safely operate semi-trucks and trailers including tankers and live floor trailers both on and off the road.

Manure Application: Worker will use a pump that is hooked to a hose or a manure pipe to pump manure from the lagoon to an applicator in the field and apply manure to cropland as directed by the supervisor. Worker will also be involved in using a pump or wheel loader to fill a tank or v-bottom spreader that is hooked to a tractor and drive tractor hooked to the manure spreader to the field where he will then apply manure to field as directed by supervisor.

Special Requirements

Job requires worker to complete tasks in Equipment Operation.

Experience Requirement: 3 verifiable months of commercial agriculture experience driving farm tractors of minimum 200 horse power required. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the last 3 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Drug test not utilized as pre-employment tool.