Farm Workers

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
hops.
This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable agricultural field work experience handling tasks including agricultural field work. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Irrigation: Work with management to understand the correct irrigation schedule to effectively irrigate each field. Some varieties have specific water needs and irrigator must know what variety is in each field and the proper settings. Must understand the pump system and how to operate each pump station. Must be able to perform chemigation when needed. Must take Pesticide Handlers course and be certified to handle and apply chemicals through the irrigation system. Must be able to repair and all damaged irrigation systems. Must be able to properly place and pick up drip tubes at the start and end of season.

Pest Management: This job consists of monitoring all fields and preparing a scouting report that has data on all pests that are present in the fields. Must understand the type of pest that they are looking for. Must understand the process of how to sample a field and where/when to pull samples.

Machine Helper: This job consists of operation and maintenance of the picking machine before and during hop harvest. Employee is required to understand individual controls for the operation of the hop picking machine as well as performing any maintenance and cleaning necessary. Must be able to work long hours when machine is broke down in order to get it back to proper working condition.
Duties include:
• Turn off and on the individual components of the picking machine
• Oil and clean components of picking machine when necessary
• Repair broken parts of picking machine when necessary
• Maintain workplace and food safety concerns in the picking machine area
• Basic management of vine hangers, truck drivers and sweepers.
• Lockout/Tagout procedures are mandatory when performing any cleaning or maintenance to picking machine
• Cut out any vines that have wrapped around shafts and sprockets
• Use compressed air to clean off cleaning screens
• Use food grade oil to clean, coat, lubricate and/or grease parts of picking machine
• Fill out daily log on machine issues, cleaning, and maintenance that was performed.
• Must work with management to be aware of procedures for variety changes.

Top Tier (Twining): This job consists of tying twine at the top of the trellis while standing on a platform implement. This job is a very skilled position and must use proper technique to ensure that the twine is tied and anchored correctly to the top of the trellis. Must be able to work at a fast pace and have no fear of heights. Must be able to hold arms up and over the head for a minimum of 15 minutes at a time. Must be willing to wear a harness at all time while on the platform. Must be able to understand the different stringing systems used on the farm and perform all systems.

Top Cutter (harvest): This job consists of driving a tractor that pushes the hop trucks down the row while cutting the top of the bines and dropping them into the back of the hop truck. Must use common sense when cutting the bines and not get too far in front of the machine. Verbal communication with the foreman is required to know if they need to slow down or speed up. Must be able to operate a tractor with implements.

Perform hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, , mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, fork lifts, skid loaders. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable agricultural field work experience handling tasks including agricultural field work. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.