Equipment Operator - 601

About the Role

The Equipment Operator provides support in operating farm equipment and machinery in a safe and efficient manner for optimal crop production during field preparation, planting, cultivation, harvesting, and maintenance of crop acreage. While primarily assigned to a specific department, the operator may also work across various departments, including Alfalfa Crop, Bean Crop, Conservation, Corn Crop, Farm Support Services, Scales, and Organic/Conventional Row Crop.

Responsibilities

• Maintains and complies with total quality controls according to USDA standards for inspection, grading, sorting, handling, and shipments to ensure food safety.
• Performs daily pre- and post-operation inspection of equipment, maintains a daily log, and reports issues to the Crop Foreman.
• Conducts daily preventative maintenance, including refilling grease points and fluids for equipment and implements.
• Operates agricultural equipment (e.g., tractors, combines) safely and efficiently.
• Attaches farm implements (e.g., plows, discs, sprayers, harvesters) to tractors using bolts and hand tools.
• Assembles, attaches, and adjusts farm implements as needed.
• Loads hoppers, containers, or conveyors using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
• Manipulates controls to set, activate, and adjust machinery mechanisms.
• Mixes materials or chemicals and loads them into planter or sprayer machinery.
• Adjusts, repairs, and services farm machinery; notifies supervisors of malfunctions.
• Observes and listens to machinery to detect malfunctions and identify equipment problems promptly to minimize downtime.
• Assists with planting, weeding, or harvesting activities as part of department work crews.
• Performs tillage, planting, cultivation, and harvesting operations effectively.
• Maintains equipment through proper service, repairs, adjustments, and safety inspections.
• Promotes and maintains a safe work environment.
• Completes daily reports and field operation reports as requested.
• Collaborates with team members and treats others with respect, courtesy, and consideration.
• Provides professional and courteous support to customers, clients, and external stakeholders.
• Maintains regular attendance, punctuality, and physical presence at the worksite.
• Complies with environmental health and safety policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Department-Specific Duties

Agronomy

• Operates tractors with artificial tunnel-building implements.
• Adheres to proper handling, maintenance, and operation procedures for tunnel-building implements.
• Maintains daily records of activities and EPA chemical application sheets.
• Collects measurements of infested areas requiring treatment.
• Maintains a clean worksite and conducts routine visual inspections of equipment.
• Uses proper application techniques for treatments.
• Safely transports equipment and implements.
• Assists with treatments, extermination processes, manual weed removal, field mapping, sample collections, loading alfalfa bales, and grounds-keeping tasks (e.g., shoveling, trimming hedges, mowing, hauling debris).

Corn

• Maintains inspection, hour, and fuel logs for planting, liquid/dry fertilizer banding applications.
• Assists in loading seeds and fertilizer by hand or forklift.
• Monitors tractor controls to ensure proper land preparation, planting, and harvesting specifications.
• Performs preventative maintenance, greasing, and fluid refilling of tractors and equipment.
• Reports needed repairs, welding jobs, and parts to Crop Foremen.
• Maintains a clean worksite and properly cares for equipment.
• Safely transports equipment on roadways when necessary.
• Assists with sprinkler unplugging, field scouting, and upkeep of fields and facilities.
• Maintains a good driving record.

Scales

• Operates hay squeeze equipment safely and efficiently.
• Performs daily safety inspections to ensure equipment functionality.
• Conducts maintenance and repairs on equipment as needed.
• Maintains equipment cleanliness by removing trash from cabs and washing down equipment daily.
• Completes operating paperwork (e.g., pre/post-trip inspections, logbooks).
• Communicates courteously with co-workers, management, customers, and vendors.
• Files work orders for mechanical repairs and reports issues to supervisors and Farm Support Services.
• Completes and maintains loading documentation (e.g., scale tickets, customer tickets).
• Observes surroundings for road conditions and operating issues.
• Reports damages or mechanical errors to appropriate parties.
• Loads and unloads products from/to fields, storage, customer vehicles, and vendors safely and courteously.
• Assists laborers with loading products and maintaining the yard.
• Sorts inventory and relocates products based on quality (e.g., damaged/bottom bales).
• Assists with tarping inventory by covering, removing, and relocating tarps.
• Maintains a good driving record and completes annual re-certification for safe practices.
• Learns to operate other farm equipment as needed.

Alfalfa

• Maintains inspection, hour, fuel, and planting logs.
• Assists in loading seeds and fertilizers by hand or forklift.
• Monitors tractor controls to ensure proper land preparation and planting specifications.
• Performs preventative maintenance, greasing, and fluid refilling of tractors and equipment.
• Reports needed repairs, welding jobs, and parts to the foreman.
• Maintains a clean worksite and properly cares for equipment.
• Safely transports equipment on roadways when necessary.
• Assists with sprinkler unplugging, field scouting, loading alfalfa bales, and upkeep of fields and facilities.

Custom Grazing

• Maintains inspection, hour, fuel, and planting logs.
• Assists in loading seeds and fertilizer by hand or forklift.
• Monitors tractor controls to ensure proper land preparation and planting specifications.
• Reports needed repairs, welding jobs, and parts to the Manager.
• Safely transports equipment on roadways when necessary.
• Assists with unplugging sprinklers, scouting fields, and other tasks as needed.
• Sets up electrical fencing and water tanks.
• Transports and sets up gooseneck stock trailers and portable corral systems.