Nursery Worker
Employer
262 Hopeland Rd
Lititz, PA 17543
United States
Job description
Crops/Commodities:
Livestock, Pumpkin, Evergreen trees, Christmas trees.
Workers will perform heavy manual field work including but not limited to planting, cultivating, harvesting/cutting and baling evergreen trees on a tree farm. Cut selected trees by chain saw, drag cut trees from cutting area, run trees through tree baler and load trees onto trucks for transport. May drive trucks or tractors to transport trees from the field to central loading area. Remove brush, ferns, vines and other growth from planting area using tractor, mattocks and brush hooks and axes. Plant seedlings using mattock or dibble. Shear tops and limb tips from Christmas trees, as specified by supervisor, to control growth, increase limb density and improve shape.
Workers will prepare trees for digging by tying or wrapping with twine as necessary; digging the trees (often by hand with a shovel), wrapping burlap around root ball and place in wire basket, crimping wire basket and securing with twine, and lifting, carrying and loading nursery stock onto trucks for transport. 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); load, unload or transplant bare-root nursery stock; straighten, tie, prune trees with knife and shear trees; cut, pull or remove and mow weeds or grass, including mowing grass with walk-behind mowers; move irrigation equipment; apply herbicides and fertilizer. Workers may be asked to plant, spray, trim, mow around, and harvest pumpkins.
Work will also include heavy mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include power shears, trimmers, chain saws, tractors, skid steers, mowers, augers, balers. Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency.
In addition to the work outlined above, workers may be required to perform variable tasks such as perform a variety of tasks associated with the breeding, handling, feeding, and preparation for sale of cattle/livestock. These include the following: minimal herding cattle in fields (use of side-by-side, if necessary), herding of cattle on foot in feed lots, and leading cattle into shoots securely for tagging/feeding. Competence in basic handling practices for tagging and separating cattle, and opening or closing headlocks in a timely fashion. Basic practices involved with feeding cattle, including tractor driving (with spears for bales), and opening/closing gates in a timely fashion. Cleaning of paddocks and feed lots using tractor/loader to move/remove manure for composting. Maintaining/cleaning and filling water troughs and buckets. Handling basic feeding activities including apportioning grain, hay, and feed supplements according to instructions. Assisting in handling cattle in preparation for sales.
Workers with appropriate licenses may operate general purpose vehicles to transport workers, equipment and product from one field location or facility to another. Workers may be required to do any other manual tasks involved in the harvesting of evergreen trees and the maintenance of tree nurseries, fields and other production areas. Workers may be asked to water, feed or move livestock, as needed.
Work is performed as a member of a crew under close supervision of a field supervisor. Instructions and general supervision will be provided by a designated lead worker or company supervisor. Field workers will be expected to perform their general duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.
Workers must work outdoors in all weather in temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This is considered heavy manual labor; to perform the job adequately workers must be able to lift 50-100 lb. trees over the course of a normal work day. Workers will be expected to work in light snow or
Special Requirements
This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior experience working in a nursery handling both manual and machine tasks associated with nursery production. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Work week is Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday work may be offered but not required. Must be able to lift/carry 50-100 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use.