Farm Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities: Field Grown and Container Grown Trees.
Primary Job Duties: Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the outdoor production of horticultural products. Plant, cultivate and maintain nursery stock including shade trees, evergreens, and ornamentals. Prepare fields/soil for planting. Unload trucks that contain bare-root and container trees and plants. Plant seedlings or ‘liners' in the field or containers using hand tools or a mechanical planter. Perform general plant maintenance. Prune, stake, tie, space, transplant and cull trees to ensure availability of marketable products. Shear trees with proper taper and bud cut angle for quality. Harvest trees and other plants using equipment and hand tools. Wrap and package trees for shipping using burlap liners, wire baskets, strapping, twine, and staples. Properly load, secure, and tarp trees for shipping. Perform maintenance on production fields including mowing, spraying herbicides, and weeding. Use hand tools including but not limited to saws, pruning shears, pole pruners, ladders, shovels, loppers, and crimping tools. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Safely operate equipment as required: skid steers, tree spades, utility tractors, implements, utility vehicles and manlifts.

Secondary Job Duties: Apply fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Inventory trees by grading, sizing and counting. Install, maintain, and operate irrigation systems. Assist with maintenance and repairs of farm facilities. Install and maintain fences.

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.

Employees who completed the prior season and have a minimum of ten months of experience shall receive an hourly rate of $16.00 per hour.

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. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker's performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property. In assessing whether workers' performance meets reasonable expectations, employer evaluates, among other reasonable criteria, whether the worker: (1) has adequately complied with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures; (2) has complied with all health and safety guidelines, including the use of tools or equipment in accordance with best practices to protect the employer's property, crops, and in a manner that avoids injury or damage; (3) has treated company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.

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.