Agricultural Equipment Operators

Work description

Crops/Commodities: Pecans. Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays): Harvest pecans mechanically and manually. Workers will be assigned rows of trees and must prune and thin each tree as shown by the field supervisor. Limbs must not be torn from the tree, nor should limbs be completely stripped of leaves. Remove sticks from orchard. Grade pecans; till soil; transplant, weed, thin and prune crops. Construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, pruning scissors, pipe fittings, pipe wrenches, shears, pick axes and wheelbarrows. Pick up old pecans in the field to be hauled off. Use wheelbarrow to haul dirt, concrete, and mulch to washes in the field. Lift and carry buckets to spread fertilizer, keeping up, as tractor pulls fertilizer trailer through orchard. Haul fertilizer to young trees with wheelbarrow. Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Record information about crops such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Remove unwanted weeds by hand in orchard. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches including checking valves. Set up, operate and maintain irrigation equipment and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Use pick ax and shovel to make new irrigation ditches in the field. Operate tractors to harvest crop. Operate forklifts and other equipment, which may include dozers, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chainsaws, bobcats, skid loaders, high lifts, and trucks or other vehicles. Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers. Work at picking table to clean pecans, including removing dirt, sticks, rocks and trash. Run pruning tower to cut branches. Load and unload products and materials. Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Adjust speeds of cutters, blowers, and conveyors and height of cutting head. Clean, adjust, repair, and perform routine service on equipment (e.g., lubricating grease points, inspecting and maintaining fluid levels, checking belt and conveyor tensions, and maintaining tires, wheels, bearings, belts, and other wear parts). Repair or replace defective parts. Attach farm implements (e.g., plows, harrows, discs, sprayers) using hand tools. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. May assist with other general farm maintenance or repairs. Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products and property. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honeybees, 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. Job opportunity is Skill Level I. All primary duties are entry-level and require close supervision and/or a short demonstration of the task by a more experienced worker. 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 will have an unpaid lunch break.