Farm Workers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Forage: Duties to include, but not limited to: Soil preparation, operating tillage equipment, cutting equipment. Hauling bales to storage barns / farms that purchase hay.

Other Crops/Activities
Cut Flower Production: Duties to include, but not limited to: workers may drive and operate farm machinery to plant, cultivate, harvest, process, and store flowers, woody cut stems, and fillers. Attach farm implements such as plow, disc, drill, cultivator, and mulch layer to tractor and drive tractor in field to till soil, plant/cultivate crop. Perform a variety of other duties such as lubricating and repairing farm machinery. May plan and schedule plowing, cultivating, planting, and harvesting operations. Plant, cultivate, harvest, strip, bunch, and sleeve flowers, woody cut stems, and fillers (boxes, buckets, crates). Lay plastic, setting plants, weeding (w/hoe and by hand), driving stakes, netting, stringing, grading/sorting, bouquet making, and activities associated with specialty cut flower production. Perform any combination of duties concerned with preparing soil and growth media, cultivating, and otherwise participating in horticulture activities. Hauls and spreads topsoil, compost, and fertilizer. Dig, rake, and screen soil to fill high and low tunnels to prepare them for planting. Construct and deconstruct low tunnels as needed. Plant, spray, weed, water, and trim plants and woody bushes. Bunch, make bouquets, wrap, sleeve, condttion, and pack flowers and woody cut stems to fill orders. Load vehicles for market and wholesale deliveries. Seed, tend, and transplant seedlings and place in growing area. Dig, wash, sort, label, and package bulbs and tubers. Assist with delivery of product to customers. Maintenance of farm equipment required in operation. Assist in set-up of product
for sale of crop.

Alternative Work;
General farm maintenance and other duties as required in the farming operation maintenance. Includes, but not limited to, preparing barns, draining fields, preparing land for planting, dropping sticks in field, maintenance of tools & equipment, and other work as directly related to the crop activities for which the worker is hired. Also includes fixing, clearing, and painting of fences / barns. Such work will be offered when climate or crop conditions preclude working in the primary activities listed above and only after the first week guarantee is met.

General Conditions:
A normal work week is Monday through Friday from 07:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m and Saturday 07:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If work is available beyond normal workdays, employer may offer, but not require, worker an opportunity to work additional hours. Workers will report to work at designated time and place as directed by assigned employer each day. However, workers may be requested to ten (10) hours per day depending on the conditions in the fields and the maturity of the crops. Also, workers may be requested to work on federal holidays and their Sabbath but will not be required to do so. Workers may volunteer to work additional hours when work is available.
Down time: Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer’s control. These periods can occur any time throughout the season. Worker may be required to work in fields when crops are wet with dew / rain and should have suitable clothing for conditions which include light rain and temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to more than 100 degrees. Workers should be able to stand, bend, stoop and work for prolonged periods of time and be physically fit to perform duties as assigned. Workers will be trained for period of two (2) days (14 hours) after which workers will be expected to perform job required. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising or breaking crops. Care must also be exercised with any use of equipment.

Special Requirements

Physically able to bend, stoop, and able to stand on feet for long periods of time. Physically able to meet and perform all job specifications. May be required to take random drug and / or alcohol tests, at no cost to the worker. Testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment. All testing and background check will occur after employment has started and is not a part of the interview process. May be required to submit a criminal background check, at no cost to the worker. Felony convictions that employer reasonably believes, consistent with current law, will impair the safety and living conditions of other workers or other individuals on the farm will result in immediate termination. Failure to comply with request for criminal background check may result in immediate termination of employment.