A professional who drives and operates farm machinery to plant, cultivate, spray, and harvest fruit and nut crops, such as apples, oranges, strawberries, and pecans. Respnsibilities include:

• Attaches farm implements, such as plow, planter, fertilizer applicator, and harvester to tractor and drives tractor in fields to prepare soil and plant, fertilize, and harvest crops.
• Mixes chemical ingredients and sprays trees, vines, and grounds with solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases.
• Removes excess growth from trees and vines to improve fruit quality, using pruning saws and clippers.
• Irrigates soil, using portable-pipe or ditch system.
• Picks fruit during harvest.
• Drives truck or tractor to transport materials, supplies, workers, and products.
• Makes adjustments and minor repairs to farm machinery.
• May thin blossoms, runners, and immature fruit to obtain better-quality fruit.
• May select, cut, and graft stock-wood (scion) onto tree stem or trunk to propagate fruit and nut trees.
• May spray trees in spring to loosen and remove surplus fruit, and in fall to prevent early dropping and discoloration of fruit.
• May prop limbs to prevent them from breaking under weight of fruit.
• May start fans that circulate air or light smudge pots or torches to prevent frost damage.
• May be identified with work being performed, such as picking, plowing, and spraying; or according to crop worked such as cherries, cranberries, lemons, or walnuts.