Ag. Equipment Operator

Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers. Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers. Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions. Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment. Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions. Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools. Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks. Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities. Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops. Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information. Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals. Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers. Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products. Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers. Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps. Drive and operate farm machinery to plant, cultivate, harvest and store grain crops. Till soil; plant and cultivate grain. Tow harvesting equipment. Drive and operate self-propelled combine. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops. Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them. Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping. Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers. Sow grass seed, or plant plugs of grass. Cut, roll, and stack sod. Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease. Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs. Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required. Trap and destroy pests, such as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides. Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel. Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing. Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage. Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets. $15.05 H-2A Worker

Salary : $15 - $16