Farmworkers

Job description

Plant, cultivate, and harvest corn, soybeans, sugarcane, and rice by hand or machine. Operate, repair, clean, and maintain farm vehicles, tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, self-propelled machinery, combines and equipment to plant, cultivate and harvest crops. Move equipment between locations. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowel, hoes, tampers and knives. Transplant and weed crops. Provide field preparation and field clean up including burning fields and using a machine to clear and level fields. Till soil and apply fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides. Load and unload harvested products. Participate in irrigation activities, such as set up, maintain, and repair, and operate irrigation equipment. Walk fields to check on and maintain adequate water supply to crops from wells. Rogue soybean and cornfields by walking through fields and removing undesirable off type soybean and corn varieties and weeds by hand or using a hoe, shovel or machete. Use shovels for end of season draining of fields. Unload harvested crop into grain bins. Take moisture samples from grain trucks. Unload grain bins and load into trucks. Plant sugarcane while walking behind moving wagon. Load field wagons with sugarcane stalk segments. Walk behind field wagon in groups and remove pre-cut sugarcane stalks from supply trailer and manually place and straighten predetermined numbers of sugarcane stalks into an open furrow at specific intervals/overlaps. Perform general farm maintenance including weed and grass control. Mow, weed eat, and edge sidewalks. Clean in and around work areas, housing areas and maintain buildings and grounds. Using the employer's vehicles, licensed drivers may transport workers and be offered additional hours.
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. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

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 should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employer’s recruitment period.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable farmwork experience required. Walk, sit, bend, stoop, reach, push/pull, and perform repetitive movements for prolonged periods of time. Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Work in inclement weather conditions including extreme heat, cold and/or rain. Must be 18 or older. Valid drivers license required. Obtain a Louisiana drivers license, when required by law, upon arrival. Employer is a drug free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.