429 Misc. Ag & Related Occupations

This group includes occupations, not elsewhere classified, concerned with miscellaneous agricultural and related occupations.

429.387-010 COTTON CLASSER (agric.; textile) cotton grader.

Classifies cotton according to grade, staple length, and character, employing knowledge of cotton fiber and standards for various grades as established by US. Department of Agriculture: Examines cotton sample to detect variations in color; foreign matter, such as pieces of bolls, leaves, or twigs; undeveloped seeds, sand, and dust; and preparation defects, such as gin-cut fibers and neps I. Pulls layer of fibers from cotton sample with fingers to form rectangular tuft, places tuft on black background, and estimates or measures staple length, using cotton-stapling rule. Determines character (strength, uniformity, and cohesive quality) of fibers by pulling sample, fineness of fibers, and drag as fibers cling to each other. Classifies fibers according to standards for various grades. May examine fibers through microscope to determine maturity and spirality of fibers. Records grade on bale identification tag and bale number and grade on shipping, receiving, or sales sheet.

429.587-010 COTTON CLASSER AIDE (agric.)

Performs any combination of following duties to assist COTTON CLASSER (agric.; textile): Records grades called out by COTTON CLASSER (agric.; textile) on sample classification certificates and related documents. Summarizes and tabulates classification results, using specified numeric symbols. Assembles classification results, using specified numeric symbols. Assembles classification certificates and other records for mailing to growers, government officials, and other designated recipients. Carries cotton samples to and from storage and grading areas. May assist in testing cotton samples.

Tends variety of machines, such as dryers, cleaners, gin stands, and linters that dry, clean, and separate cotton lint from seed and waste material: Slides hand into seed chutes and removes accumulations of seed. Observes saw ribs in gin stand and linter screens to detect clogging. Removes cotton manually or using gin stick. Opens gas supply valve and pushes alarm switch to warn workers that machinery is starting. Pushes switches to start separator, vacuum and trash fans; seed augers; linters; cleaners and other auxiliary equipment. Turns control knobs on automatic dryers to ignite fire, and set drying temperature. Ascertains seed-handling instructions from seed tags, pulls ropes to open gates allowing seeds to be deposited in hoppers according to instructions, and resets automatic seed weighing-counter. Pulls ropes to open suction gates and start suction that controls flow of cotton through equipment. Listens to sounds of running machinery, observes flow of seeds and cotton, feels cotton sample, and sniffs air to detect equipment malfunction and maladjustment, and burning cotton. Stops machine and removes obstructions, adjusts dryer temperature, and regulates cotton feed to correct malfunctions, achieve optimum drying of cotton, and maintain maximum ginning capacity of machines. Closes suction gates after last bale of order has been ginned. Records seed weight and bale weights on report form. Periodically replaces worn and defective parts on machines. Lubricates motors, bearings, and other friction surfaces. May be identified with machines tended, or with work being performed such as linting, cleaning, drying, and ginning.

429.685-014 l THRESHER, BROOMCORN (agric.)

Tends machine that threshes and bales broomcorn straw: Cuts string or rubber band binding from sheaves of broomcorn straw, using knife, and feeds straw into threshing machine to remove seeds. Offbears straw from discharge end of threshing machine and drops straw into bucket to aline straw. Hands bucket of alined broomcorn straws to PRESS FEEDER, BROOMCORN (agric.) who places straws in compression chamber of hydraulic press. Closes compression chamber and starts hydraulic press to compress broomcorn straws into bale. Ties wire around bale and pushes bale from chamber.

429.686-010 PRESS FEEDER, BROOMCORN (agric.)

Feeds hydraulic press that bales broomcorn straw: Places broomcorn in compression chamber of hydraulic press. Alines stalks of straw in chamber to insure that straws are not broken when compressed. Signals THRESHER, BROOMCORN (agric.) to bale broomcorn straw.

Adapted from US Department of Labor DOT for Dictionary of Agricultural Occupations

15 November 2004