Farmworker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
sweet potatoes.
Workers will work all duties involved in planting, growing, harvesting, and washing sweet potatoes. Workers will plant, cultivate and harvest sweet potatoes. Workers will cut planting slips and place in container according to instructions. Workers will use care when working with potato knife. Workers will walk along row that has been previously plowed. Workers will drop potato slips into ground and cover back up with dirt, or ride mechanical setter. Workers will remove weeds manually either by hand or with a hoe. Workers will use mechanical diggers to harvest sweet potatoes. The mechanical diggers will dig two rows at a time, the potatoes will be picked up by the digger and will travel up a conveyor belt to the workers riding on the trailer. The workers will grade the sweet potatoes and place them in boxes on the trailer with care, not to skin or bruise the potatoes. Canners, when harvested, will be placed into a separate bin. Damaged or diseased potatoes will not be harvested.

Workers may be required to operate tractors, skid steers, and other farm equipment during field operations as an incidental activity in the production of crops. Workers will be instructed in safety and operation of the tractor and other equipment before driving tractor or using other equipment. Tractors should be driven in a manner to protect operator, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination.

In addition, workers may be required to perform variable tasks relating to crop production such as the following: irrigation, ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, weeding, cleaning, potato box repair, and repairing farm buildings, seed beds, racks, grounds and other tasks related to general farming. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Build/repair fences.

Work is to be done for long periods of time. Workers will assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to and including 75 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet for long periods of time. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day, working in fields. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may transport other workers.

Persons seeking employment as experienced farm worker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

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. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. 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.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a five-day trial 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 trial period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a vegetable crop farm handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able lift/carry 75 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work.