Agricultural Equipment Operators

Acerca del empleo

Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest sugarcane and soybeans and harvest crawfish by hand or machine. Harvest crawfish by hand or machine. Operate farm vehicles, equipment, tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, self-propelled machinery and other agricultural machinery to till, plow, harrow and fertilize soil and to plant, cultivate, spray, harvest, and load crops. Use hand tools such as shovels, hoes, tampers, knives, and machetes to transplant, weed, and rogue crops. Apply fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, equipment and machinery. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalk segments. Walk behind field wagon in groups and remove pre-cut sugarcane stalks from supply trailer and manually place and straighten predetermined numbers of sugarcane stalks into an open furrow at specific intervals/overlaps. Follow harvester on foot through the field picking up dropped cane. Rogue soybean fields by walking fields on foot to remove undesirable off type soybean varieties and unacceptable weeds. Lift and carry 50 lb. sacks of seed and properly load seed into hopper. Participate in irrigation activities, such as setting up and operating irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Walk fields to check on and maintain adequate water supply to crops. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Clean equipment using steam cleaner or high pressure water hose. Perform general farm maintenance including weed and grass control. Workers will wade or ride in boats and pick up traps and dump crawfish into boats, rinse and bag. Place bags of crawfish into coolers. Workers with a valid doctor’s certificate and driver’s license may be offered additional work hours to transport workers during the employment period. 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. 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.

Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two 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 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 two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations.

Requerimientos

Requires 3 months of experience in operating agricultural equipment. Requires extensive sitting, walking, pushing, pulling, reaching, kneeling, bending and stooping. Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Climb 8 ft ladder to clean equipment. Work outside in hot, cold and/or wet weather conditions. Must be 18 years of age or older. Wade in crawfish ponds which measure approximately 15-24 inches deep. Ride in a crawfish boat for up to 7 hours per day. Retrieve snakes from crawfish traps.