MehnaTi

Agricultural Equipment Operators

Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste. May perform tasks such as crop baling or hay bucking. May operate stationary equipment to perform post-harvest tasks such as husking, shelling, threshing, and ginning.

Sample of reported job titles:
Baler Operator, Cutter Operator, Equipment Operator, Farm Equipment Operator, Hay Baler, Loader Operator, Packing Tractor Machine Operator, Rake Operator, Sprayer, Windrower Operator

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
  • Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
  • Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.
  • Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
  • Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.

Technology Skills

  • Data base user interface and query software:Martens Farms Farm Trac
    ,    Microsoft Access
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software:Farm Management Software Hay and Crop Manager
  • Map creation software:Martens Farms Farm Site Mate
  • Presentation software:Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Spreadsheet software:Microsoft Excel

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials:Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes:Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving Objects:Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Apply chemical solutions to plants to protect against disease or insects or to enhance growth.
  • Attach equipment extensions or accessories.
  • Confer with managers to make operational decisions.
  • Direct activities of agricultural, forestry, or fishery employees.
  • Inspect equipment or facilities to determine condition or maintenance needs.

Work Context

  • Face-to-Face Discussions:71% responded"Every day"
  • Level of Competition:68% responded"Moderately competitive"
  • Time Pressure:68% responded"Once a week or more but not every day"
  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather:66% responded"Every day"
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work:63% responded"Some freedom"

Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Operation and Control:Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operations Monitoring:Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Troubleshooting:Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Knowledge

  • English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
  • 57%
    Less than a High School Diploma
  • 19%
    High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
  • 14%
    Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
  • 10%
    Some College Courses

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Control Precision:The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Multilimb Coordination:The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Near Vision:The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Depth Perception:The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Far Vision:The ability to see details at a distance.

Interests

  • Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Work Values

  • Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Independence:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Work Styles

  • Persistence:Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Cooperation:Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Independence:Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
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