Farm Technician

Job Overview

Join the Black Gold Farms team as a Farm Technician at our Harrellsville, North Carolina location and play a vital role in supporting sustainable agricultural operations. You will be instrumental in supporting the Farm Manager in all phases of crop production and farm operations with a focus on safety, equipment maintenance, quality, efficiency, stewardship, and profitability in the production of potatoes, corn, soybeans, peanuts, cover crops, and other crops selected in response to market conditions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and govern yourself in such a manner so that you present a positive image of Black Gold anywhere and at any time.
• Assist in farm work as necessary by being available and arriving at work on time to begin daily operations.
• Accept responsibility for safety and fire prevention by keeping buildings, grounds, irrigation systems, storage areas, and vehicles in good repair and “Tour Ready.” Correct unsafe work conditions and bring them to the attention of the Farm Manager and/or the appropriate Farm Safety Committee representative immediately.
• Keep all vehicles, machinery, and facilities clean and ready for field operations. Coordinate with the person in charge of maintenance to ensure that maintenance records are accurate and current.
• Assist the Farm Manager, Production Specialist, Agronomist, and Equipment Specialist with day-to-day field and facility operations, including land preparation, planting, irrigation, crop protection, harvest, post-harvest handling, cover-crop establishment, and field cleanup.
• Assist in moving trucks, tractors, implements, irrigation equipment, seed, crop inputs, and harvested products among fields, farms, and storage or handling locations as required.
• Be prepared to support other Black Gold farms, departments, or operational areas as assigned by the Farm Manager.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and the agricultural pesticide applicator license required for assigned duties. Maintain, repair, install, calibrate, and operate farm equipment as assigned by the Farm Manager, with technical direction from the Production Specialist, Agronomist, or Equipment Specialist as appropriate. This may include equipment used for tillage, planting, cultivation, irrigation, crop protection, harvest, crop handling, and cover-crop establishment. Obtain and maintain any additional certifications required to perform assigned work safely, legally, and effectively.
• Inform the Farm Manager and Agronomist of adverse field or crop conditions, including pest, disease, weed, fertility, drainage, irrigation, or weather-related concerns. Assist with crop scouting, field monitoring, stand counts, tissue or soil sampling, and yield sampling. Develop practical knowledge of growth stages, harvest readiness, and common production risks for potatoes, corn, soybeans, peanuts, cover crops, and other crops grown at the farm.
• Assist with potato receiving, grading, storage, loadout, quality control, and sanitation activities, as applicable, and become familiar with the safe operation of the farm’s crop-handling and storage systems.
• Assist the Farm Manager with USDA, DOT, OSHA, EPA, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, pesticide, Worker Protection Standard, and other applicable reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Apply agricultural pesticides only when properly licensed and authorized, follow all label directions and safety requirements, and complete application records accurately and on time. Work with the Farm Team to maintain compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
• Anticipate operational needs and perform preventive maintenance to reduce breakdowns and downtime during critical planting, irrigation, spraying, harvest, and crop-handling periods, as directed by the Farm Manager or Equipment Specialist.
• Fabricate and/or repair parts and equipment as required so that outside fabrication services are only occasionally required.
• Maintain a shop environment that is clean, safe and conducive to repair and fabrication as required.
• Support a culture of zero tolerance for fraud, theft, or other illegal activity involving Black Gold facilities, operations, employees, contractors, guests, or visitors. Report suspected illegal activity to the Farm Manager immediately.
• Supervise and train seasonal employees as required by the Farm Manager, reinforcing safe work practices, equipment procedures, crop-quality expectations, accurate recordkeeping, and efficient completion of assigned tasks.
• Cooperate with other full-time Black Gold employees to achieve these job results and model safe, professional, and productive work practices for seasonal, part-time, and newly hired employees.

Requirements

• High school diplona
• Valid drivers license with a clean driving record
• Proven experience with aqriculture equipment
• Ability to handle equipment safely and operate related equipment confidently.
• Strong mechanical skills with experience in equipment maintenance
• Physical ability to perform heavy lifting and perform outdoor tasks in diverse weather conditions.
• Excellent attention to detail with basic math skills for data recording and analysis.
• Highly motivated self starter
• Attention to detail

Black Gold Farms is recognized as a leader in the potato production industry for our high-quality potatoes, our sales, and our customer service. We have been around since 1928. That’s over 95 years of digging deeper and living life by our seven aspects of culture; Values, Transparency, Team, Excellence, Customer, Passion, and Innovation. With a fourth-generation family-owned company like this you truly end up becoming part of the family. Black Gold Farms’ culture places a very high value on honesty, authenticity, and service – we say what we do and do what we say. We strive to ensure a family atmosphere and maintain a positive employee environment for learning and innovation, with an emphasis on generating greater returns through teamwork powered by skilled and committed individuals.

Black Gold Farms offers an excellent benefits package, including health, a company funded health savings account, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) program with a company match, short-term disability; paid time off, and incentive compensation.

This position is located at our farm in Harrellsville, NC. Black Gold Farms is a multi-state Ag operation with locations that include: Grand Forks, ND (headquarters); Brooks, MN; Live Oak, FL; Rhodesdale, MD; Camden, NC; Columbia, NC; Harrellsville, NC; Delhi, LA; Arbyrd, MO; Charleston, MO; Winamac, IN; and Sturgis, MI.

Black Gold Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as needed to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Pay: $40,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Briefly describe your mechanical skills, training, and any certifications you hold.

Experience:

• farm technician: 5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• private pesticide license (Preferred)
• drivers license (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $40,000 - $55,000