Agricultural Equipment Operators

Job description

Agricultural equipment Operator: prepare soil for planting, plants, fertilize, spray, dig and harvest of Vidalia onions and pecan trees. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery and self-propelled machinery. Operate towed machines such as seed drills, planters, rotary cutters, mowers, cultivators, harrows, plows, spreaders, sprayers, and forklifts. Operate the tractor by releasing brake, shift gears, depress pedals and manipulate steering controls, read gauges. Handle agriculture materials using tractor equipment. Mount and dismount equipment. List and attach tractor implement. Perform other duties. Open fields by moving onions from one row to another row to open up a driveway for the machinery. Repair and maintain of farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, towed machines, trucks, irrigation equipment and processing equipment. Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect problems. Troubleshoot, repair and perform minor maintenance on farm vehicles and equipment. Must have ability to manipulate small parts and operate hand and power tools. Perform tree maintenance such as pruning, thinning, and fertilizing pecan trees. Use cans to spread fertilizer, keeping up, as tractor pulls fertilizer trailer through field. Pick up bags of pecans, load on trailers, unload bags, place bags on scales and dump bags into storage bins. Clean and maintain fields, including weed control. Remove trash and debris from fields. Workers will walk along rows and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using hoe. Must be able to work on uneven terrain both on foot and while aboard moving equipment. Assemble and repair fences and farm buildings. Workers will cultivate by hand and use hand tools such as shovels, hoes, pruning hooks, shears, tampers and knives and power tools. Assist with 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.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable work experience operating up to 150 hp tractors and heavy agricultural equipment. Perform prolonged walking, standing, stooping, reaching, bending, pulling, heavy lifting up to 75 lbs, work outside in extreme temperatures (working temperatures as hot as 100 to 110 F and as cold as 32 F) and all-weather conditions. Must be 18 years or older. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employers expense and is not part of the interview process. Negative results are required before starting work.