Farmworkers And Laborers

Job description

General Nursery Work will include the following responsibilities:
Using hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes tampers, pruning shears and knives. Duties may include transplanting, pruning, trimming, staking, digging and harvesting nursery stock in the field. Workers may be required to move balled and burlapped trees using tractors and farm equipment. Workers will spend prolonged periods of time standing, walking, carrying and stopping.

Workers will take part in all aspects of cultivating, harvesting and shipping “balled-and-burlapped” nursery stock. Duties include:
-kneeling to pin burlap on root ball
-kneeling to tie twine to secure rootball
-crimping wire baskets on rootball with lightweight hand held crimping tool
-tie tree tops with twine to prepare for shipping
-tipping trees into mechanical loader for transport (must be able to lift 60 lbs.)
-loading trees onto trucks for shipping
-installing and/or removing plastic tree trunk protectors with tape dispenser
-installing and/or removing wire or fiberglass tree stakes
-weed removal with a hoe or shovel
Workers may also operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production and field preparation such as tractors, irrigation equipment and other commonly used equipment in agriculture and drive vehicles to transport farm workers, crop or equipment.

Workers may also:
1. Operate or maintain equipment used in agricultural production and field preparation such as tractors, irrigation equipment, 4-wheelers, trucks, and other commonly used equipment in agriculture.
2. Operate tractors to mow, weed spray and trailers in the fields.
3. Load and mix chemicals in addition to operating tractors pulling air blast sprayers.
4. Install monitor, maintain and repair the irrigation system for a specified area of the fields.
5. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
6. May operate, maintain and repair tractors, farm machinery.
7. Workers may also clear debris and garbage from fields and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment, and work areas.
8. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs.
This application also includes work of growing, care and harvest of apples, cherries, plums, prunes, pears, apricots, nectarines, peaches, tree fruit nursery, seed carrots, row crop vegetables and other orchard and farm labor. The worker will perform duties on a motorized. platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker must possess the ability to pick-up and handle a 8-10 ft. orchard ladder.

Fruit Harvest
The worker will hand harvest fruit on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker will attach the harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit. The worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with their hands and removing it from the tree in a motion that will not harm buds on tree branches. The worker will carry the harness, bucket or bag of up to 20 lbs. and will place the fruit into lugs or bins. The worker must exercise care at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Some workers may be tasked with examining harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications.
Seed Carrots
The worker will plant seed carrots.
Row Crop Vegetables
Harvest row crop vegetables, such as cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, sweet corn and beans by hand or using a knife, according to method appropriate for type of vegetable. Ascertains picking assignment from supervisor and places work aids, such as bucket, bins and tie wires, in assigned area. Picks vegetable from plant or soil or cuts vegetable from stem or root. Puts vegetable in container or lays bunches of vegetables along row for collection. Carries containers or armloads of bunched vegetables to collection point. Loads vegetables on to trucks.

Special Requirements

General Job Specifications:
1. Must be able to perform all duties within this job description in what can be considered a safe manner adhering to all established farm safety guidelines, practices and procedures.
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2. Must wear all required and assigned personal protective equipment always when required to do so. Employee must wear proper clothing and footwear depending on the season. All footwear must be closed-toe due to safety precautions. Workers may not use a cellphone or handheld device while operating equipment
3. The employer or designated employee will provide instructions and general supervision. Employees will be expected to conform to the specific instructions given for each days work.