Farmworker

Job description

Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.

Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops. Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment. Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities. Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping. Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers. Sow grass seed, or plant plugs of grass. Regulate greenhouse conditions, and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems. Cut, roll, and stack sod. Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease. Provide information and advice to the public regarding the selection, purchase, and care of products. Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems. Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs. Record information about plants and plant growth. Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required. Dig, rake, and screen soil, filling cold frames and hot beds in preparation for planting. Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality. Trap and destroy pests, such as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides. Move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors. Tie and bunch flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, and pack them into boxes to fill orders.
Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels. Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures. Plant, spray, weed, fertilize, water, and prune plants, shrubs, and trees, using gardening tools. Note: Start and end times will vary depending on the commodity or seasonal weather conditions. Monday-Saturday they may start as early as 5:00 AM when the temperatures are too hot and their shift may end at 12:00 PM. When temperatures are too cold they may start as late as 10:00AM.

Special Requirements

Training: There will be a demonstration period to familiarize workers with job specification and to demonstrate proper methods when performing their specific job. Workers are required to continuously work on their feet and be able to carry or lift 60 lbs. Workers must wear all required and assigned personnel protection equipment at all times, when the task requires worker to do so. Worker must wear proper clothing and footwear depending on the season. All foot wear must be closed-toed and durable due to safety precautions. All work sites for this employer are drug free. Workers must not report for work, enter property, or preform service while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, illegal or controlled substances.