Farmworker

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant pecan trees, cultivate and harvest pecans by hand and machine. Clean, pack and load harvested products. Operate farm vehicles, tractors, and agricultural equipment. Ongoing orchard maintenance including pruning and thinning on ladders and lifts. Workers must prune and thin each tree as shown by the supervisor. Limbs must not be torn from the tree, nor should limbs be completely stripped of leaves. Till soil, transplant, thin and prune crops. Clean, repair, and maintain farm vehicles and agricultural equipment. Pick up old pecans in the field to be hauled off. Lift and carry buckets to spread fertilizer, keeping up, as tractor pulls fertilizer trailer through orchard, or by using wheelbarrow. Apply fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Remove unwanted weeds by hand in orchard.
Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Set up, operate, and maintain irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches including checking valves. Use pick ax and shovel to make new irrigation ditches in the field. Bending, stooping, and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, wheelbarrows, pipe fittings, pipe wrenches, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences.
Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has an accident at work. Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles.
Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honeybees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker's performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property. In assessing whether workers' performance meets reasonable expectations, employer evaluates, among other reasonable criteria, whether the worker: (1) has adequately complied with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures; (2) has complied with all health and safety guidelines, including the use of tools or equipment in accordance with best practices to protect the employer's property, crops, and in a manner that avoids injury or damage; (3) has treated company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural field work experience. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Perform prolonged bending, reaching, heavy lifting, carrying, and loading. Climb 6 ft. ladders and use 25 ft. lifts. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer is a drug free workplace. Employer-paid drug testing required after a worker has an accident at work or upon reasonable suspicion. Work is outside in inclement weather conditions including extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather.