Farmworkers And Laborers

Job description

The farm work position includes duties associated with the planting, cultivation, harvesting of hay, rice, wheat, soybeans, and corn. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the crops grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm.

Soybeans/Corn/Wheat/Rice: Workers will be responsible for weeding by hand and hoe while keeping fields clear. Workers will drive tractors to till, plant, irrigate, cultivate, and harvest grain crops. Specifically they will set up and operate irrigation equipment; plant, cultivate, spray, and harvest crops, apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to crops; clear and maintain irrigation ditches. They will be required to drive grain trucks and use various hand tools as required for task. Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools. Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and week growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers. Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery. Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps. Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, hand trucks, or forklifts, or transfer augers.

Hay: Moving and stacking hay. Worker must make sure that the surface of the cut fodder has dried. Using a side-delivery rake, the worker will then turn the windrows over allowing the hay to dry completely. The worker will inspect the hay for no other foliage. Dried hay may be stored in stacks or in bales. A truck or trailer will be driven between the windrows, and will be used to gather the fodder for stacking. The workers will fork the hay onto the trailer. Ropes should be laid on the trailer bed before any hay is loaded, in order to unload the hay quickly.

Workers must use care when performing their farm work duties and exercise consciousness. Workers must adhere to all safety rules as instructed by their supervisors and all farm work operations must meet the standards and specifications given by the employer. Workers will be instructed in the safety and operation of the vehicle/equipment before operating. All vehicles should be driven in a manner to protect workers, in-field crops, and equipment. Operators should ensure all equipment is functioning correctly before operating. The use of all necessary PPE and safety equipment including wearing of seatbelt at all times when operating farm equipment is mandatory. Workers may assist with the repair, service, and maintenance of farm equipment including the prep, cleaning, lubrication, assembly, inspection, dismantling of equipment parts.

Special Requirements

Employer may conduct drug/alcohol testing post-employment and at the employer's expense.

Employer may conduct criminal background checks post-employment and at the employer's expense.