Equipment Operator

Work description

Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data. Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research. Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques. Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks. Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire. Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules. Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries. Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers. Prepare reports required by state and federal laws. Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair and perform necessary maintenance work. Maintain financial, operational, production, or employment records for farms or ranches. Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities. Direct the breeding or raising of stock, such as cattle, poultry, or honeybees, using recognized breeding practices to ensure stock improvement. Negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock. Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock. Analyze soil to determine types or quantities of fertilizer required for maximum crop production. Provide information to customers on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns. Analyze market conditions to determine acreage allocations. Supervise the construction of farm or ranch structures, such as buildings, fences, drainage systems, wells, or roads. Replace chemical insecticides with environmentally friendly practices, such as adding pest-repelling plants to fields. Conduct inspections to determine crop maturity or condition or to detect disease or insect infestation. Conduct or supervise stock examinations to identify diseases or parasites. Determine types or quantities of crops, plants, or livestock to be grown and raised, based on budgets, federal incentives, market conditions, executive directives, projected sales volumes, or soil conditions. Determine, administer, and execute policies relating to operations administration and standards, facility maintenance, and safety. Direct crop production operations, such as planning, tilling, planting, fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting. Evaluate marketing or sales alternatives for products. Hire, supervise, and train support workers. Monitor activities, such as irrigation, chemical application, harvesting, milking, breeding, and grading, to ensure adherence to safety regulations or standards. Monitor environments to ensure maintenance of optimum animal or plant life. Obtain financing for and purchase necessary machinery, land, supplies, or livestock.

View the official U.S. Department of Labor source

Last updated: October 7, 2026