Agricultural Equipment Operators

Number of Workers Requested:  7

Operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (whether on or off farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday (including on public roads to reach farmer?s fields and/or transport workers to the grocery store, or bank on an as-needed basis. Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities. Not all workers are requested to drive; drivers will be required to possess a valid operators license. Under direction of supervisor, worker will perform any combination of tasks involved in the operation of farm equipment for the purpose of tilling soil, mowing grass, cutting brush and planting young trees & plants. Use tractors, trucks and farm equipment on farm property. Prune trees, remove suckers, remove blossoms and thin fruit to improve quality also train & secure fruit trees. Will engage in weeding and other activities to keep the orchard clean. Employers will provide tools and equipment at no cost for workers to perform the above tasks. Workers may be terminated for any willful damage to or loss of such tools and equipment. Workers will be required to work in inclement weather and in a range of temperatures. Trim fruit trees, hand thin weeding, hoeing, scoffing and summer thinning. Also repair boxes. Move empty bins around orchard for use by pickers. Pick apples for fresh market and/or processing. When picking fresh apples by the hour, workers are required to harvest 70% of a 20 bushel bin per hour. When picking process apples by the hour, workers are required to harvest 90% of a 20 bushel bin per hour. All fruit to be handled with care to avoid bruising. Fruit injured by bruising shall not exceed 1% as defined in the US standard for grades. Workers must be physically able to pick tree fruit, most of which is done from ladders, with lower branches being picked from the ground. Picked fruit is placed in a metal-framed canvas covered picking bucket with canvas straps that slip over the head and rest on the shoulders. Filled bucket, weighing up to 60 lbs. is emptied into bulk bins. Workers required to handle ladders up to 24 long and weighing about 2 lbs per foot and being able to set the ladder using only side rails. Workers may be instructed to selectively pick mature fruit according to size, color, defects & other USDA grade standards. Workers may need to harvest fruit with the use of stem clippers. Must be physically able to lift up to 75lbs on a consistent basis throughout the day. While working in the field, all cell phone usage is limited to emergency use only. Due to safety concerns on a farm, workers must be able to communicate in English and understand basic instructions in English. Employer may conduct/require random illegal drug or alcohol tests at employer?s expense after hiring, for the safety of themselves and others as they will be operating machinery. Failure to comply with request or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in termination. Workers referred as a result of this order must have a minimum of three months verifiable experience in performing the tasks described in this order.