Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

Agricultural Equipment Operator: Operate tractors to transplant, cultivate, machine harvest and plow crops. Operate towed machines such as transplanters and sprayers to plant, fertilize, dust and spray crops. May operate forklift to load and unload flue-cured tobacco. Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect problems. Troubleshoot, repair and perform minor maintenance on farm vehicles and equipment. Drive farm trucks and tow farm trailers to haul farm related materials, supplies, and harvested crops to designated locations as directed by employer or supervisor. Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Workers will cultivate by hand or with mechanical cultivator attached to farm tractor. Transplant, cultivate and harvest flue-cured tobacco. Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. May supervise other workers. May operate and perform minor maintenance on farm vehicles or equipment. May drive farm truck, bus, tractor, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on the farm. May drive bus or van over the road. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another worker’s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires minimum 3 months verifiable work experience operating up to 200 hp tractors with farm implements. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment.

Tobacco: Harvest workers will move into a row of mature tobacco plants. Each row may be as long as 1500 feet. The tobacco plant may be from 4 to 6 feet tall and spaced about 20 inches apart in each row. Starting at the bottom of the plant, the worker will bend over at the waist and pick the bottom two or three leaves from each plant. Staying bent over, the worker will move down the row of mature tobacco repeating the above-process. (The bottom leaves may be as low as two inches from the ground.) The worker will place the picked leaves under his arm. Once the worker has gathered an armload of leaves, he will carry it to a field sled. The leaves must be laid neatly onto the field sled. The worker then will return to the row and repeat the process. All workers must be able to distinguish ripe tobacco by observing the color of the leaves. Care must be exercised to prevent breaking of the plants. Workers must be able to move quickly along the rows and move in unison with the field sleds. Worker may ride mechanical transplanter and mechanical harvester. Workers may walk behind transplanter to reset missing plants. Workers must remove all flowering tops and suckers from tobacco plants. Workers may be asked to fill and close boxes of green tobacco and push boxes into the barn which requires standing for long periods and physical endurance.

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires minimum 3 months verifiable work experience operating up to 200 hp tractors with farm implements. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment.