Christmas Tree Supervisor

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Christmas trees.
Crew Chief for crews of 3-12 Christmas tree workers engaged in planting, cultivating and harvesting Christmas trees and perform other duties related to tree farm production. Crew chiefs instruct, oversee and direct crews of workers engaged in heavy manual field work including but not limited to planting, cultivating and harvesting Christmas evergreen trees on a tree farm. Remove brush, ferns and other growth from planting area using tractor, mattocks and brush hooks. Plant seedlings using mattock or dibble. May scatter fertilizer pellets over planted area by hand or spreader. May spray herbicides or pesticides. Shear tops and limb tips from trees as specified by supervisor to control growth, increase limb density and improve shape. Select trees for cutting according to markings or size, species and grade and fell trees using axe or chain saw. May drive trucks or tractors to transport trees from the field to central loading area. Make wreaths and roping from cut greenery produced on the farm. Drag cut trees from cutting area, run trees through tree baler and load trees onto trucks for transport. Products must be handled carefully to prevent damage.

Crew Chiefs also direct crews in the following tasks: take inventory and grade plants, prepare trees and shrubs for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary; dig; wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples; crimp wire baskets; lift, carry and load nursery stock; and unload, move or load supplies, including wire baskets. Hand dig ornamental evergreens and conifers. Prepare fields for planting by clearing cull stock, brush and debris; plant seedlings or ‘liners' by hand (including riding and inserting liners in a mechanical planter); hand dig, load, unload or transplant bare-root nursery stock; straighten, tie, prune and shear trees and shrubs; cut, pull or remove and mow weeds or grass; move irrigation equipment; apply agricultural chemicals: herbicides and insecticides and apply fertilizer.

Work directing crews is to be done in the field for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Workers may assist in loading trucks with nursery stock and materials weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day, working in fields. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations.

Crew Chiefs will give instructions on how to properly prune/shear. Crew Chiefs will also give instructions on how to shear trees with proper taper and bud cut angle for quality.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Shorts, bathing suits or other casual clothing not permitted. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences. Clear debris from field and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment, and work areas.

In addition, crew chiefs may be required to perform/oversee variable tasks such as the following: irrigation, ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, weeding, trimming, tagging, packing, and other tasks related to general farming.

Work will also include heavy mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include power shears, chain saws, and tractors. Crew chiefs will be expected to operate and maintain agricultural equipment without direction.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of six months of verifiable prior experience working on a tree farm overseeing crews working in both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Crew Chiefs are responsible for overseeing that Christmas Tree workers perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.