Agricultural Equipment Operators

H2ajobs; Lowndesboro (AL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-provided housing

Transportation provided

Job summary

H2ajobs in Alabama is seeking workers to plant, prune, cultivate, and harvest pecans in an outdoor orchard environment. You will operate tractors and other equipment, mix soil, maintain irrigation systems, and load harvested pecans by hand or with machinery.

Applicants must have at least 2 months of verifiable experience operating agricultural equipment and pruning trees, be able to lift 50 lbs, and obtain a driver’s license within 30 days.

Qualifications

• 2 months verifiable experience operating agricultural equipment and pruning nut trees.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must have or obtain a driver’s license within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Plant pecan trees by hand or machine, and cultivate/harvest pecans.
• Maintain orchards: pruning, thinning, and leveling soil and irrigation ditches.
• Operate farm vehicles and machinery; load/unload harvested pecans; perform routine maintenance.

Skills

Operate farm equipment

Tree pruning

Irrigation setup

Pesticide application

Truck/tractor driving

Lifting up to 50 lbs

Team communication

Tools

Tractors

Bobcats

Mowers

Conveyors

Job description

Crops/Commodities: Pecans.

Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays):

Perform manual labor to plant pecan trees, cultivate and harvest pecans by hand and machine. Maintain orchards including pruning and thinning pecan trees. Clean, pack and load harvested products. Operate farm vehicles, tractors, and agricultural equipment. Harrow and fertilize soil, plant, cultivate, spray, sweep, shake, and harvest crops using equipment. Plant pecan trees by hand. Perform ongoing orchard maintenance including pruning and thinning on ladders and lifts. 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. Use hand tools such as chain saws, weed eaters, hand trenchers, mowers, blowers, shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, pick axes, chippers, pipe fittings, pipe wrenches, irrigation tools, rakes, post hole diggers, sledge hammers and wheel barrows. Till soil, mow, cut, and weed fields. Prepare and/or clear land for planting using mechanized or hand equipment to remove trash, rocks, or other debris or material that may interfere with planting or harvesting activities. Level land by moving dirt and other materials. Equipment may include tractors, dozers, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chainsaws, bobcats, skid loaders, high lifts, and trucks or other vehicles. 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. 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. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches including checking valves. Set up, operate and maintain irrigation equipment. Use pick ax and shovel to make new irrigation ditches in the field. Load/unload harvested pecans or other materials manually or with mechanized equipment such as conveyors, or handtrucks. 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 farm vehicles and agricultural 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. May assist with other general farm maintenance or repairs. Construct trellises, repair and maintain fences and farm buildings. Workers are also responsible for sanitation duties including cleaning, sweeping, and mopping floors.Licensed drivers may drive trucks or other vehicles to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers on or off the farm, and may be offered additional hours. 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. 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. Supervisor(s) will provide instructions and directions to workers. Workers must be able to comprehend and follow instructions and communicate effectively to supervisors.

Housing:

Employer-provided (including mobile or range)

Meals:

Employer does not provide meals. Employer-provided housing includes free and convenient kitchen facilities with appropriate equipment, appliances, cooking accessories, and dishwashing facilities for meal preparation. For workers residing in employer-provided housing, employer also provides free transportation once per week to/from closest town or city for personal errands (e.g., groceries, banking services). Dining, kitchen/cooking facilities and other common areas are shared by all workers. In the event that kitchen facilities become unavailable during the contract period, employer will provide three daily meals in accordance with 20 CFR 655.122(g). In such circumstances, employer will deduct the cost of such meals up to the maximum allowable amount published in the Federal Register, or as otherwise approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Transport:

Employer pays/reimburses foreign workers for all visa-related costs (excluding passport fees) in the first workweek. For non-local workers, employer arranges/provides inbound transportation via common carrier mode of transportation (e.g., bus or plane) and reimburses workers for daily subsistence and reasonable lodging costs, if applicable. Use of employer-offered transportation is voluntary.

Experience wanted: 2 months

Two months of verifiable experience operating agricultural equipment and pruning nut trees is required. Work outside in extremely hot, cold, and/or wet weather. Perform prolonged walking, bending, stooping, sitting, pushing, pulling, and reaching overhead for extended periods of time. Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Perform repetitive movements. Must have or be able to obtain drivers license within 30 days following hire. Must be 18 or older.