Field Workers

Job description

Agricultural produce: Spinach, tender leaf, leaf lettuce, arugula, and spring mix lettuce.

Sprinkler Crew Member:
Workers will unload sprinkler pipe from trailer and set up irrigation system, check and unplug sprinkler birds to ensure uniform irrigation, move sprinkler pipe multiple times in conjunction with other operations until crop is harvested, load sprinkler pipe onto trailer, install drip hose and set up drip tape system, repair in-field drip hose leaks, and remove drip tape at harvest. Other duties may include splicing of drip tape, stacking of irrigation pipe, cleaning, maintaining, and repairing of sprinkler pipe and accessories, and shovel.

Pre-irrigation Unloading and Loading of Sprinkler Pipe: Workers walk on uneven furrows. Workers lay (or pick up) sprinkler irrigation pipes by securely connecting (or disconnecting) one pipe to (or from) another until end of irrigation line. Teams are made up of 3 workers. One worker drives a tractor with a trailer that carries aluminum pipes, while the other two workers walk behind. There are two sizes of aluminum pipe: 30’ x 3” weighing approximately 25 pounds and 30’x10” weighing approximately 50 pounds. Under the direction of the field supervisor, workers remove pipes one at a time by bending at the waist and manually unloading (or loading) pipes into (or from) the furrow to set up the field for irrigation. Pre-irrigation unloading and loading is done in fallow fields.

Solid Set Unloading & Loading of Sprinkler Pipe: Workers walk on uneven furrows. Workers lay (or pick up) sprinkler irrigation pipes by securely connecting (or disconnecting) one pipe to (or from) another until end of irrigation line. Teams are made up of 3 workers. One worker drives a tractor with a trailer that carries aluminum pipes, while the other two workers walk behind. There are two sizes of aluminum pipe: 30’ x 3” weighing approximately 25 pounds and 30’x10” weighing approximately 50 pounds. Under the direction of the field supervisor, workers remove pipes one at a time by bending at the waist and manually unloading (or loading) pipes into (or from) the furrow to set the field up for irrigation. To set up an irrigation system, workers may install 10-inch mainline aluminum pipe that distributes water to lateral 3-inch lines. Solid set unloading and loading of sprinkler pipe is done when fields are planted with seeds (or transplants) or after harvest.

Unplugging Sprinkler Birds: Workers walk across beds on wet, uneven furrows. Workers move within the field, searching for non-working or plugged sprinklers. Workers use employer- provided tools to unplug sprinklers. Workers must avoid stepping on and smashing the seeds and/or plants.

Moving Sprinkler Lines: Workers walk across beds on uneven furrows. As directed by supervisor, workers move sprinkler pipes, one at a time, to furrows by securely connecting one end into the other. The latch must securely fit and lock into position. Workers must avoid stepping on and smashing the seeds and/or plants. There are two sizes of aluminum pipe: 30’ x 3” weighing approximately 25 pounds and 30’x10” weighing approximately 50 pounds. To set up an irrigation system, workers may install 10-inch mainline aluminum pipe that distributes water to lateral 3-inch lines.

Install Drip Tape: Workers walk across beds on uneven furrows. Teams are made up of 2 workers. One worker drives a tractor with an attached implement that lays drip tape hose in precise locations in between established plant lines. The second worker walks behind the tractor and implement to monitor and ensure placement of drip tape hose. Second worker cuts and ties off hose at each end of the field. Drip hose will be spliced into the next spool of hose carried on installer until drip irrigation system is complete.

Special Requirements

1 month of experience harvesting spinach, tender leaf, leaf lettuce, arugula, or spring mix lettuce, sprinkler work or sanitation work.

Employee, with proper licensing (i.e., class D non-commercial driver`s license in Arizona and Class C non-commercial driver`s license in California) and accepted driving record may drive the farm sanitation truck in the field (well under 26,001 pounds and has no capacity to carry farm crops.) Required basic knowledge of driving a tractor, forklift and harvesting machines, must pass a tractor, forklift and machine safety training and demonstrate ability to operate the equipment in a safe manner.