Agriculture, Forestry

Job description

All applicants must be able, willing, and qualified to perform the work described in this job description and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in box A.3 & A.4. This work order is for qualified people to perform agricultural work and working in a commercial scale maple sugaring operation. Workers must be willing to work in cold weather as low as 15 degrees and work on snow covered ground up to 3 feet. Due to Vermont’s extreme weather some weeks may require the workers to work longer hours. Workers will use precision tree-sap tapping equipment, operate agricultural equipment to include tractor with loader and rear mounted attachments, pick-up truck, and chainsaw. Workers must be able to operate agricultural equipment safely and should report for work with their own suitable clothing. Workers may operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles and may transport workers from housing (whether on or off farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday (including on public roads); and/or transport workers to the grocery store, bank, or laundry facilities on an as-needed basis. Those that are requested to drive will be required to possess a valid driver’s license; no worker will be rejected for not having a driver's license. This position involves precision coring of "tap-holes" in trees; precision insertion and setting of spouts; crimping, cutting, and connecting food-grade flexible pvc tubing; and installation and repairing of various diameter food-grade flexible pvc pipe/tubing (up to 2'). The work assigned will be physically demanding, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, and walking for most of the day in woods and mountainous environments for long periods of time will be required. Workers will perform maintenance of buildings, and general farmwork and labor, and orchard tasks including but not limited to clearing brush, install, replace, maintain, and remove tubing systems, tap maple trees, evaluate health of sugar maples for potential sap production, monitor sap flow level in tubing, checking for leaks, pull taps at the end of the season and cleaning equipment. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 75 pounds on a frequent basis. Workers must be available to work 8-hour shifts between the hours of 7:00am - 7:00pm Monday through Friday. Workers will be given a 30-minute lunch break which is staggered between 11am - 1pm as decided by the workers. Workers may choose where to eat their lunch and return to work after their 30 minutes are up. The daily or weekly work schedules may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, orchard conditions, and other factors. The employer will notify workers of any change to the schedule.. The employer will furnish to workers without cost all tools and equipment required to perform all duties assigned. Workers must be able to take direction in simple English. Ability to stringently follow safety protocols.