Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate and harvest sugarcane and soybeans by hand and machine. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, shears, knives, machetes and weed eater. Till soil. Weed crops. Apply fertilizer. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalks that have been segmented using machetes while working in groups. Walk behind field wagons and hand plant sugarcane at designated intervals in furrow rows. Repair fences and farm buildings. Clear, maintain and dig drainage ditches. Transport tanks of fertilizer to field. Load seed into hoppers. Use a weed eater and mower around buildings, wells, grain bins, culverts, and equipment yards. Assist with cleaning equipment using steam cleaner or high pressure water hose. The cleaning process is set according to the height and diameter of each grain bin. Excess grain must be removed from bin walls, roof, floors and auger with blowers, brooms and shovels. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. Workers with licenses may drive the truck or other transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional work hours. Clean and load harvested products. Use tractors to move hay bales. As a minor activity, tend to cattle. Assist with all 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. 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. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the 2 day 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 2 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

Two months farmwork experience required. Climb grain bins up to 40 ft. high and lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Perform prolonged walking, bending, pushing, pulling,
reaching, sitting and kneeling when planting sugarcane by hand. Most job duties require workers to work in extremely hot, cold or wet weather. Hazardous occupation.