skillfactor-pipeline/skills/land-based-machinery-technician/references/tasks.md

Tasks & work activities — land-based machinery technician

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 45-2091.00 (Agricultural Equipment Operators).

Task statements

• [Core] Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
• [Core] Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
• [Core] Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
• [Core] Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
• [Core] Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
• [Core] Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
• [Core] Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.
• [Core] Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, handtrucks, forklifts, or transfer augers.
• [Supplemental] Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.
• [Supplemental] Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
• [Supplemental] Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
• [Supplemental] Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops.
• [Supplemental] Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers.
• [Supplemental] Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals.
• [Supplemental] Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information.
• [Supplemental] Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products.
• [Supplemental] Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers.

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.
• Load agricultural or forestry products for shipment.
• Load materials into equipment for processing.
• Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.
• Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.
• Operate conveyors or other industrial material moving equipment.
• Operate farming equipment.
• Operate irrigation systems.
• Plant crops, trees, or other plants.
• Prepare materials or solutions for animal or plant use.
• Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.