Farm Worker
Employer
700 Indian Valley Road
Alpine, AL 35014
United States
Job description
Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the outdoor production of horticultural products. Plant, cultivate and maintain nursery stock including shade trees, evergreens, ornamentals and other horticultural varieties. Prepare fields/soil for planting. Unload trucks that contain bare-root and container trees and plants. Plant/pot seedlings or ‘liners’ by hand or mechanical planter. Use horticultural tape to tape bamboo around tree to hold the tree in place in order for tree to grow straight. Hand dig trees and other plants with shovel or tree spade. Work in groups when harvesting trees to wrap, strap and crimp basket onto root ball and use twine to wrap branches to prepare tree for shipment. Perform general plant maintenance. Train, stake, prune, thin, trim, shear, space, transplant and cull trees to ensure availability of marketable products. Shear trees with proper taper and bud cut angle for quality. Tie/position trees and plants by tying or wrapping as necessary. Count, inventory, and grade trees. Clean and maintain employer’s grounds and facilities. Move, install, repair, maintain and operate irrigation equipment, systems and/or water lines/pipes. Apply fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer’s products and property. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Use hand tools including but not limited to saws, pruning shears, shears, pole pruners, ladders, shovels, hoes, rakes, loppers, and crimping tools. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Operate equipment as required: skidsteers, tree spades, utility tractors, implements, utility vehicles and manlifts. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, 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. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. 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. 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. Raises/Bonuses: After initial evaluation of work performance or as separately disclosed herein, employer may offer raises and/or bonuses in its sole discretion, based on non-discriminatory individualized factors. The payroll period is weekly. All workers are subject to qualitative performance evaluation relative to employer’s reasonable expectations. In assessing worker performance, employer evaluates whether the worker: (1) adequately complies with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures disclosed to worker; (2) complies with all health and safety guidelines, including proper use of tools or equipment according to operating instructions and best practices designed to protect employer’s property, crops, and avoid injury or damage; (3) treats company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.) with care and respect, avoiding damage or improper cleanliness or maintenance standards; (4) timely and consistently follows instructions duly communicated by supervisors and other management personnel; (5) adheres to employer’s quality control standards for ensuring a marketable product, avoiding crop damage, etc.; (6) reports to work consistently at the time and place instructed, and remains at work for the
Special Requirements
One month of nursery work experience required. Work outdoors in inclement weather conditions. Work requires repetitive movements and frequent standing, sitting, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing/pulling, climbing ladders up to 9 ft. and lifting, carrying and loading up to 75 lbs. Post-accident drug testing required at the employer's expense.