Beekeeper
Employer
1062 HWY 1176
Bunkie, LA 71322
United States
Job description
Crops/Commodities: beekeeping. Workers must be familiar with working with bees in all stages and castes, from the egg and larval stages through fully developed workers, drones and queens. Worker must be familiar with all aspects of commercial bee keeping, including assessing a colony to determine if it needs food or medicine, feeding and medicating bees, determining varroa/tracheal mite loads, maintaining hives in a healthy state, increasing number of hives, raising and replacing queens, making divides, making, painting and cleaning boxes, supering hives for honey flow. Operate queen breeding yard and produce queen bees. Manipulate and service hive structures and haul bees to and from different hive locations to ensure healthy and productive honeybee colonies. Must respond correctly to bees to harmonize with their natural cycle and keep them in the healthiest state possible for survival and profitability. Must be familiar with honeybee nucleus (“nucs”) production. General maintenance and servicing of equipment and facility, including comb protection, storage and preparation. Workers begin the season in Louisiana. Workers will then assist in the harvesting, extraction and storage of honey in New York. Hives will be evaluated for quality and strength. Following evaluation, proper treatment and nutrition will be administered. Subsequently, workers will prepare for and execute shipment of hives back to Louisiana. Bees return from northeastern states in a depleted and worn-down condition. Workers will prepare to accept bees and bee equipment returning from northeastern U.S. Hives will be fed and their condition assessed. Hives must be continually monitored during this recovery period which requires medication, feeding and evaluation to determine if additional measures will be required. Workers who possess a valid driver’s license and meet all applicable legal requirements, including holding a doctor’s certificate as required by 29 CFR § 500.105, may be asked to drive vehicles for transporting workers, goods, or commodities. This task is voluntary, compensable, and not a mandatory job duty. Workers without a valid driver’s license or doctor’s certificate will still be fully eligible for employment and are not disqualified from any other job responsibilities outlined in this application.
Special Requirements
This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a honeybee farm handling both manual and machine tasks associated with beekeeping. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Workers must be able to perform all work activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 70 lbs. Workers must have no fear of bees and be non-allergic to bee stings, pollen, honey or other products of the hive. Must be able to work in excessive humidity and heat up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.