Sod Farm Workers

Job description

Sod Farm Worker: cuts, rolls and stacks sod by hand. Plants, waters, sprays, weeds sod. Mows grass. Operate harvesters and forklifts to load pallets of turf. Load and unload crops and farm materials. May operate and perform minor maintenance and repairs on farm vehicles, implements or equipment. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. Mow grass and operate trimmer around farm buildings. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Operate farm vehicles to haul crops and drive other farmworkers from place to place around the farm properties (including on public roads to reach farmer’s fields) during the workday. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. May deliver or assist in delivery of sod produced on the farm within a radial of 144 miles from the field in which it was grown (in its unmanufactured state) to storage or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market. SOD: Prepares soil and growth medium, hauls and spreads topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, lime and other soil conditions on sod grass and turf areas. Digs, rakes, screens soil. Fills tanks with water. Weeds, water, sows grass seed and plants plugs of sod. Operates mowers and sod cutters. Cuts, rolls, and stacks sod. Load and unload sod. Work is to be done in the field for long periods of time. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Workers may assist in loading of trucks by lifting 75 pounds to a height of 5 feet or more repetitively. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another worker’s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Must be 18 years old. Must commit to work entire contract period. Workers are expected to perform any of the listed duties and work on any crop as assigned by the employer and/or worker’s supervisor.

Work may also include mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation, power equipment may include tractors, planters, sprayers, cultivators, mowers, lifttrucks and other equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Allergies to grasses, ragweed, goldenrod etc. may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations.

Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day while working in fields. Temperatures may range from 40° F to +100° F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations.

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Workers may assist in loading of trucks by lifting 75 pounds to a height of 5 feet or more repetitively. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Must be 18 years old.