Ag Equipment Operator

at Papen Farms Inc. in Dover, Delaware, United States

Job Description

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. Maintain farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions. Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers. 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. Drive and operate self-propelled combine. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Maintain farm buildings, fences, and other structures.

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). For the entire duration of the work contract, transportation from the housing location to the work site and back each day will be provided at no cost to the worker. The Employer will provide 1 vehicle: ( 2015 Chevrolet pickup Seats: 5) for the worker to use for transportation to the worksite, back home from the worksite, or to go to the store. The worker will drive themselves to work and back home at the hours specified on the form ETA 790A Section A, Item 7.a and 7.b unless otherwise directed. The hours may vary during different times of the crop season. Daily transportation will be available to workers that do not reside in employer-provided housing at no cost to the worker.

The employer will make all deductions required by law, including federal, state, and local income taxes (if applicable), and court-ordered deductions such as, but not limited to, child support or garnishments. Additional deductions may include stop-payment or check replacement fees, repayment of overpaid wages, and any other deductions authorized by the worker in writing. The employer will also make voluntary deductions authorized in writing in accordance with state law by the worker and may include, but are not limited to, income tax withholding for H-2A workers upon request, retirement plan contributions, health insurance premiums, loan repayments, cash advances, long-distance telephone charges, data plan costs, and services like internet or cable. Deductions for employer-provided housing, tools, and equipment may only occur if the worker is responsible for intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or intentional damage, after the damage has occurred and after gaining the employee's written authorization to make the deduction, provided the cost is reasonable. Workers who quit or whose employment is terminated for cause before reaching 50% of the contract must reimburse the employer for any advanced or reimbursed travel costs. Subject to any limitation imposed by applicable law, this reimbursement will be deducted from the worker’s last paycheck. All deductions will comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable state laws, to the extent they are applicable. Deductions will be itemized on worker pay statements.