Large scale harvest tips

[ads96]

If you are on the public highway, take some damned care. If you are working long hours, your enjoyment will go out of the window if you are tired and crash into some old biddies celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Finish work, and get some sleep.

If you have a private mobile phone, for goodness sakes leave it in your car until the day is done.

Oh, gateways are always smaller than you think - always check where any ditches are. Not that I've ever, you know, underestimated the turning ability of a quadtrak with a foled up 4.5m solo on the back of it and tipped the cultivator right over or anything.

Done quite a lot of road work so in that way I'm lucky , haven't crashed into anyone but I have already had a fight with a simba subsoiler and a rather large wall, luckily the wall is still standing

 

[Brisel]

I'd second the combine driver being a first class knob. As with forager drivers. I think it's the altitude.

Al you can do is try your best. If the combine driver or manager is human, they will respect someone who tries. If not, don't lose any sleep over it! Harvest tests even the most patient people & some are just never happy. Learn that as a model of how not to treat staff when you are the combine driver or manager.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Don't worry on the shopping thing big man. You can shop at the big supermarkets on your phone or tablet and get it delivered. They cover some earlyish morning deliveries so should be convenient.

Get an app and practice before July.

Get amongst it and have a go.

 

[ads96]

Don't worry on the shopping thing big man. You can shop at the big supermarkets on your phone or tablet and get it delivered. They cover some earlyish morning deliveries so should be convenient.

Get an app and practice before July.

Get amongst it and have a go.

that's a very good point ! cheers cab over pete!

 

[PSQ]

I'd second the combine driver being a first class knob. As with forager drivers. I think it's the altitude.

- There will be character clashes : long stints / crap weather / supposedly 'unfair' allocations of work and machinery. Count to ten and then state your case calmly, dont let it escalate. If your still not happy, raise the issue at yolking time (starting) or lousing (finishing) with the staff and manager. I say this from watching harvest lads bottle up all sorts of crap because they carry a grievance in silence.
- Chip in: never watch someone else break into a sweat while your doing sod all, even if its not your job. Ask for the same in return.
- If you've 'finished' and your still on the clock, pick up brush / grease gun / whatever, and be useful.
- As mentioned above, if your unsure, discretely ask someone. The manager would rather a 100 stupid questions that 1 really stupid action.
- If it breaks, tell the boss. Keeping quiet is a capital offence. Sh!t happens to the best of us, but when caused by stupidity and laziness it happens to the worst. Cutting corners to save 5 minutes can cost hours, and will frankly make you look like a dick.
- Make good use of your down time, stick on a wash when you can, keep up with mates, and get off site to the pub to let your hair down.
- Watch your back and your colleagues backs, and you'll have the time of your life!

Come to think of it, pay particular attention to the bar maids. Just saying.

 

[Darren]

I like my food too. You're bound to be near a 24 hr supermarket or garage so don't panic about food. Drink plenty of water. Better than that red bull crap. And keep up with personal hygiene. No one wants to be in a cab with someone who's brushed their teeth with horseshit and had a fall out with the soap and lynx.

 

[Hampton]

They might show you how to operate all the fancy new tractors and the big machinery but be very prepaid to get a brush and shovel shoved in your hands and end up cleaning mucky grain stores out,,its not all as enjoyable as you may think ,,

You sound perfect! When can you start?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Ive been there and done it ,,shoveling barley bins out ,going home fealing like youve got a dose of flees with the itching,,thats the bit I dont miss
Shoveling and sweeping was the first job I got when I started on the farm,,that and every other mucky job that was going

 

[Lincs Lass]

Iff I knew my way modern tractors Ide jump at the chance to get back into farming ,,last tractors I sat on was back in 2002 ,they had actual gear sticks and no wizz kid computers ,,in the days when you drove it ,not some space age satelite gizmo

 

[Darren]

Iff I knew my way modern tractors Ide jump at the chance to get back into farming ,,last tractors I sat on was back in 2002 ,they had actual gear sticks and no wizz kid computers ,,in the days when you drove it ,not some space age satelite gizmo

Now now. You're sounding like john1594

 

[Strawgalore]

Stay away from energy drinks, Jaffa cakes are the best stay awake food. !

 

[jonnieboy]

Help the combine driver when you can
Nothing is worse than struggling with something and the trailer is sat 100 yds away

Don't be afraid to ask if your not sure what someone is on about

 

[Chae1]

Try and not live out of petrol stations for food! Been there done that a tenner a day doesn't go far. Remember and eat or you'll end up burning out. As said there'll be somebody that you don't like. Hold your tongue they'll get the sack or someone else will lay them out. Seen this at a few jobs. Keep your head down and get on with it.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

If you haven't already got 1 get a good cool box, fill it up in the morning ( you don't have to eat everything )

 

[Lincs Lass]

Nothing any worse than the combine driver getting a fox run the wrong way and it ends up going through the drum,,he will definatley need some help groveling the bits out

 

[Banana Bar]

Keep your phone with you, keep it charged. Social media is just that not work time media. Don't be late to work, own up if you break something, if your looking for something to do ask one of your colleagues if they need a hand. If you can't find anything to do get the grease gun out and grease something up, the forklift is a good place to start. Do your very best to get along with your colleagues. Don't listen to them when you're told to slow down if you're doing a manual job properly but quicker than them! Always keep your phone on you, don't leave it in the cab, it might save your life. If you're asked to do a job, do it as well as you can, don't slack. Oh and just be sure NO FACEBOOK WHEN WORKING.

Do these things and you will learn loads, earn loads and gain respect and probably be asked back next year. Good luck.

BB

 

[Beef farmer]

Keep your phone with you, keep it charged. Social media is just that not work time media. Don't be late to work, own up if you break something, if your looking for something to do ask one of your colleagues if they need a hand. If you can't find anything to do get the grease gun out and grease something up, the forklift is a good place to start. Do your very best to get along with your colleagues. Don't listen to them when you're told to slow down if you're doing a manual job properly but quicker than them! Always keep your phone on you, don't leave it in the cab, it might save your life. If you're asked to do a job, do it as well as you can, don't slack. Oh and just be sure NO FACEBOOK WHEN WORKING.

Do these things and you will learn loads, earn loads and gain respect and probably be asked back next year. Good luck

BB

Or tff. Because none of us use the app whilst at work.

 

[Drillman]

My 2 pet hates with casual drivers

1- leaving cab doors swinging in the breeze. It strains the aircon that will have been left on and fill the cab with dust.
2- screaming into the yard and switching off before the turbo has run down.

Anyone driving my tractors have these items pointed out to them before being let loose.

Keep a pair of gloves in the cab. Great for hitching up and greasing jobs and also for helping the combine man pull crap out from the guts of the harvester when it bungs up.

If your not doing anything don't stand idle. There is always something that needs greasing, washing or sweeping. As Banana Bar says, the forklift is always a good candidate for a bit of tlc.

 

[Douglasmn]

Isn't it just the same as the general rules for any other job? Turn up either on time or early, don't do non-work stuff during work time, work hard, own up if you break something, ask for help when needed, don't be lazy, good attitude, respect other people's property/possessions etc. Simple stuff really

 

[Lincs Lass]

Dont ever presume the machine some guy was using yesterday is ok today ,check it over before use
The favorate comment to any newby is ,,Well it was working ok while I had it ,you must have done something to it