Farmworkers And Laborers
Employer
Quarterline Road and Winters Road (Beards E 03)
Kewadin, MI 49648
United States
Job description
Duties may vary from time to time. Apple orchard jobs include tilling soil, planting stock, pick up rocks/roots/debris, cultivating, pruning, constructing and maintaining trellis, mowing, spraying, installing and maintaining irrigation systems, training tree growth to our growing system, managing weeds, managing pests in the orchard site, manage crop loads and harvest fruit according to supervisors’ instructions. Apple Harvest standards: picking fruit at a satisfactory rate while insuring to not bruise apples or cause damage to our trees. Harvesting is hand labor which includes climbing ladders, using forklifts to move harvest bins to and from orchards and loading fruit on trucks. All equipment for Apple harvest will be supplied by Cherry Ke, Inc. Orchard Laborer/Maintenance: Workers involved in orchard maintenance may be required to pick up roots, limbs, rocks, or debris from the orchard or fields being prepared for orchard planting, fencing, and mowing of lawns and orchards, edge and fertilize lawns. Weed and mulch landscape beds. Trim hedges, shrubs, and small trees. Remove dead, damaged, or unwanted trees and water lawns. Pruning: Workers will receive proper tools for the job, i.e., saw, pruners, chain saws, loppers, and hand snips. Standard is cutting narrow angle branches in a way to promote growth at the desired angle. Removing branches that are more than 50% diameter of main leader, moving pruned limbs to the row centers. These tools will be returned to the employer at the end of the task. Workers will be assigned rows of trees and must prune each tree according to the size of the tree and the need for pruning. Workers must take care not to damage limbs that are not being pruned. Workers must prune the needed trees according to the above requirements. Workers must remove all resulting materials from the trees and stack in the resulting brush in the center of the tractor/equipment middles. Pruning Standards: When pruning you will want to prune out the following: suckers, stubs, or broken branches, downward growing branches, rubbing or crisscrossing branches, upward growing interior branches, whorls, and narrow crotches. Workers may construct trellis installing poles at desired spacing, installing anchors and wire support system between poles. Maintaining trellis includes replacing wire support system when needed, tensioning wire support system when needed. Mowing and spraying involves operating tractor with implements applying chemicals as provided by your supervisor, maintain and using proper PPE (provided by employer). Spray Applicators: Apply pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, and herbicides, when and where directed by the spray manager. You may be asked to drive a fabricated vehicle through the orchard. Consult with spray manager with any concerns involving the quality of our crop or the health of our trees and give recommendations. Operate equipment safely and responsibly. Keep spray equipment lawful and clean. Keep records of chemicals, rate and location applied and turn in to spray manager. Communicate with spray manager or operations manager if problems or questions arise. If repairs are needed talk to mechanic before continuing use of equipment. Maintaining and installing irrigation systems, digging, and installing water pipes, repairing of any leaks in system, and ensuring system is running to our standards. Nursery (located on farm): Workers may be asked to prune and plant roots. Weeding by hand or with machine, grafting scion wood to roots, delimbing, spraying, and applying herbicide. Workers may need to clean fruit container and equipment before and after harvest. Apiary: Workers may also work with our Apiary management: Workers will be assisting the apiary managers/supervisors in applying Bee treatment, assist with honey extraction and operate Hilo. Workers may also transport workers to field and/or grocery.
Special Requirements
Applicants must be 18 years or older. Employer may conduct a criminal background check on all new employees at employers expense. Workers may be asked to operate farm equipment and experience is necessary. 3 months experience operating Orchard Equipment is required. Must be able to lift and carry 30-60 lbs. All tools, supplies, and equipment will be provided at no cost to the workers. The cost of tools destroyed maliciously or lost carelessly will be deducted from workers wages. May drive workers to field and/or grocery. Valid Drivers License is required. Proper work attire is required. Workers should come prepared wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described. Cell phones can only be used during breaks, emergencies, and to communicate with supervisors when needed.