Farm Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
blueberries, wine grapes, watermelon, mint, apples, hops, squash, cauliflower.
WINE GRAPES:
1st -3rd Year Grape Tying & Training:
With the use of a small hand pruner, remove excess wood from newly planted vine and install grow tube around vine and tie to trainer and trellis stakes using plastic tying material. Plus, removing of soil from base of vine and sealing the base of the grow tube.

Wine Grape Planting/Replanting:
Planting involves placing a grapevine on a pre-marked space in the field.
Number 1 position: Riding on the planter unit, placing the vine on a predesignated cross mark.
Number 2 position: Feeding vines to number 1 position; sorting them from the bundle and handing to the person planting.
Number 3 position: Walking behind planted vines, packing the soil around the vine. Sometimes, the vine must be removed and repositioned in the appropriate space. Using a shovel, dig a replacement hole and repack.
Number 4 position: Unloading plants from truck and loading to planting implement.

Wine Grape Trellis Construction:
Number 1 position: Placement of anchor poles; following a tractor and a posthole digger, pick up an 8’x6” wooden pole and place in pre-drilled hole, line up pole, replace and pack pole around pole to secure.
Number 2 position: Placement of dead-man anchors; using the same protocol as position number 1, secure wooden pole.
Number 3 position: Attachment of soft trellis wire between wooden and dead-man anchors and twisting the wire securely with hand wire cutter a short metal bar.
Number 4 position: Walking behind a tractor and trailer, placement of metal trellis stakes on designated mark in field. Placement is done by picking up stake by hand and placing in row center.
Number 5 position: Using the same protocol as position number 4, place trainer stakes.
Number 6 position: Picking up trellis stakes, placing on predesignated mark and placing in soil, by hand.
Number 7 position: Walking behind tractor and hydraulic stake pusher, operating a hydraulic lever and pushing said stake into soil to indicated depth.
Number 8 position: Using the aide of an ATV or Mule and tractor and trailer equipped with wire spools, multiple wires are pulled through the field to the opposite end of the field.
Number 9 position: Using the aide of wire grabbers and cable-style come-alongs, wires are wrapped around end poles, stretched tight and fastened to opposite end poles.
Number 10 position: Connecting wire to trellis stakes and trainer stakes using small wire clips. May be required to use pliers or screwdriver.

Wine Grape Shoot Positioning:
Move catch wires to upward position with goal of keeping shoots vertical. OR: Remove catch wires and drop to the ground. Tuck shoots under catch wires after they have been moved.

Wine Grape Shoot Thinning:
Remove shoots to improve light penetration, air movement through the canopy and adjust crop yields.

Grape Pruning:
Use hand pruners to remove unwanted shoots/vines from plants.
Be able to identify and count bud/spur spaces and follow instructions to leave enough bud material to achieve production.

Vineyard Herbicide Application:
Following direction of spray supervisor, and depending on weather, determine spray job to be performed.
Fill tanks with appropriate mixture of herbicide, based on recommendation provided.
Ensure tractor and sprayer are clean and appropriately maintained, including greased and oiled.
Apply herbicide to plants by operating tractor and spray implement.
Perform maintenance and repair as needed, with the guidance of supervision.

Vineyard Pesticide Application:
Following direction of spray supervisor, and depending on weather, determine spray job to be performed.
Fill tanks with appropriate mixture of pesticide, based on recommendation provided.
Ensure tractor and sprayer are clean and appropriately maintained, including greased and oiled.

Special Requirements

Jobs are offered working in vineyards, blueberries or hops, handling manual and mechanized tasks associated with commodity production. Workers must be able to perform manual and mechanized tasks with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.