Job Information
R L Lankford Farms, Inc. Ag Equipment Operator in Chinook, Montana
Temporary Fulltime position from 3/1/2026 to 11/30/2026 48 Hours/week 18.48/ hour US worker H-2A Adverse Housing Compensation Adjustment -$1.80 -- Wage for H-2A workers provided housing is $16.68 FARM EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: This is a dry land farming operation, raising: Wheat, Peas, Lentils, Canola, Barley and other small grain crops. The applicant must be: honest, and driven; able to take detailed instructions and complete all the tasks by managing both the priority and timeline given; have proficient verbal and listening skills; able to read a map or satellite imagery to locate terrain features and identify their location on the ground; lift #100 bags and have the stamina to work in all weather conditions. The applicant should understand the long hours required during harvest and how to perform as a team member; required to work early hours - typically spraying before 4:30a.m.; mix and load the sprayer with the correct volumes and order and able to identify and read labels on chemical and identify the active ingredients. The applicant should have experience operating: heavy farm machinery; a high clearance sprayer, a John Deere Green Star Operating System, 18-Speed and 13-Speed trucks and trailers harvesting small grains and pulse crops. The applicant is required to handle chemicals with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment; they should understand both conceptually and mathematically how a rate of liquid is applied using a sprayer. The ability to use integrated technology on the machinery to include GPS tracking, Swath Control, Weather Station data and Variable rate while operating the machinery is required. The applicant should be proficient at multi-tasking as many operations are required to operate the sprayer efficiently. Required to maintain equipment both on a daily routine as well as having the skills to identify problems and relay them to their superior; and have a general understanding of mechanics and maintenance of all farm equipment. They should take pride in their work, maintain a clean work environment, be punctuality, and attendance on work schedule is mandatory, and be able to vary their work schedule dependent on weather conditions. 3 months of experience is required. Drivers' license is required. ITINERARY: The season is set primarily by the dates that the Federal government sets as seeding dates, these seeding dates mark the start and end of our typical season below I have outlined a rough breakdown of a typical season: SPRING: March - Mid-May: Start of the planting date for federally insurable crops is the First (1) of April. During seeding time they will work 6+ days a week, with an average work day around 8 hours. During spraying operations they may be required to start as early as 4:00 so to be spraying by 4:30a.m. Summer: Mid-May - End July: Summer operations will be keeping fallow acres, fallow either by chemical or by plowing. In Crop Spraying will also be done during the month of June. The hours during this time is very dependent on weather as spraying can only be done in certain weather conditions. The employee will work 4-6 days a week and up to 11 hours a day. Harvest: Aug-Sept: Harvest Operations are long and weather dependent. Work 6+days a week and up to 14 + hours/ day until finished usually September. Fall Seeding: Oct-Nov: The final plant date for Federally Insurable Crops is the 15th of November, this is the final date we can seed our fall planted crops, however help is required after that date to put machinery away and winterize. This will take me to the end of November. 4-6 days a week 8 hours a day. Increased wages/bonus may be possible depending on experience. In view of the statutorily established basic function of the Employment Service (ES) as a no-fee labor exchange that is as a forum for bringing together employers and job seekers, neither the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) nor the State Workforce Agencies (SWA) are guarantors of the accuracy or tr thfulness of information contained on job orders submitted by employers. Nor does any job order accepted or recruited upon by the ES constitute a contractual job offer to which the ETA or a SWA is in any way a party. To apply, applicants must provide their full name and contact information. Only those applicants who meet all the special requirements for employment and who are ready, able, willing and qualified to perform the work, who are eligible for employment in the United States, and who will be available at the time and place needed, should apply. Interested applicants and the State Workforce Agency may call between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Mon. thru Fri. MST. Applicants may apply by visiting the local State Workforce Agency to submit their application and be advised of the terms, conditions and qualifications for the job, pursuant to 20 CFR 655.155. Applicants must provide the name, and working telephone number of the previous employer being used as a reference (the reference must be able to verify the workers experience in the occupation for which the worker is applying). If hired, the applicant must be able to provide U.S. employment eligibility and/or identification documents in verification of the applicants right to work in the U.S. The employer will complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) on each worker. The employer may be reached by the State Workforce Agency. For more information on this job opportunity, contact your local Job Service Office or Job Service Havre 160 First Ave. Havre, MT 59501 406-265-5847