Farm Workers

Job description

Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest rice, wheat, soybeans, corn, milo, and harvest catfish using hand tools and agricultural equipment. Workers will perform farm, field, irrigation, and farm equipment maintenance. Use hand tools, such as shovels, hoes, brooms, shears, nets, and knives. Till soil, weed fields, and load and unload harvested products. Repair fences and farm buildings, and participate in irrigation activities, including setting up and operating irrigation equipment, cleaning and maintaining irrigation ditches. Operate tractor, combine, tractor-drawn machinery, auger and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow, fertilize soil, plant, cultivate and spray crops. Repair, clean, and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and equipment. Mix and apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops. Inform farmer or farm manager of crop progress. Install levy gates, unroll levy gates, roll levy gates, shovel grain onto trucks, drain levy gates, carry irrigation pipe, and dig irrigation ditches. Build and maintain rice levees, put in spillways, rogue rice fields during flood. Level grain in bins using shovel, sweep bins. Take and test moisture of grain samples from grain bins and trucks. Grade samples. Work to dry wet grain in bins using aeration fans and dryers. Maintain grain bins. Feed, harvest, and maintain catfish by hand or equipment; perform manual labor to harvest fish from pond, load and unload boats, trucks and nets, dump fish into bags, weigh and bag fish. Cut bait and bait hooks. Check oxygen levels and temperatures of water. Clean work areas, sanitize, and maintain farm buildings and grounds. Use all provided safety equipment including safety goggles, harnesses, ear plugs, and gloves when required. Workers will perform field preparation and field clean up including burning fields. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive company owned and insured vehicles. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker’s performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property. In assessing whether workers’ performance meets reasonable expectations, employer evaluates, among other reasonable criteria, whether the worker: (1) has adequately complied with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures;

Special Requirements

Three months verifiable farmwork experience required. Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Bend, lift, climb, sit and reach for prolonged periods of time. Climb steps and ladders on grain bins that are approximately 100 feet tall. Work may be performed during light rain, in high humidity and in extremely wet, cold and/or hot weather. Workers must work on their feet in stooped or crouched positions for long periods of time and perform manual shovel work. Must wade in catfish pond approx. 4 feet deep. Drug testing is conducted post hire at the employers expense and is not part of the interview process. Negative results are required before starting work. The employer does not employ persons convicted of violent, sex related, theft related, or drug related crimes except under extremely limited circumstances. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration at the request of the applicant. Background checks are conducted at the employer's discretion. Must be 18 or older. Hazardous Occ