Field Laborer

Job description

WINE GRAPE HARVEST WORKER:

Wine Grape Harvest Workers use a knife to cut grape bunches off of grape vines and into a tub (also called a lug). The tub/lug is then dumped into a bin (also called a gondola). Other incidental activities that the employers indicated are tractor driving, weed control and property maintenance, leaf picking, crop thinning, tally sheet recording, and picking with a machine harvester.

GENERAL VINEYARD WORKER (Non-Harvest):

Assisting in the production, planting, and maintenance of vineyards, which involves preparing the soil, erecting trellis and irrigation equipment, pruning and training vines, and controlling pests/diseases with regular spraying.

The job duties/description includes all aspects of vineyard related duties as listed below:

A – STANDARD FARMING
• Applying Fertilizer by Hand to Vines – Able to life 50lbs.
• Bank Stabilization of Vineyards using hand pick and shovel
• Cane Cutting with hedge trimmers and pruning shears
• Canopy Management – tuck canes
• Carton/Tube Vines (Placement by hand)
• Clearing/Breakdown Trellis using wire cutters
• Clearing Brush in Vineyards using loppers and pruning shears
• Cover/Uncover Heads (Vines) using shovel
• Cut Dead Arms using loppers and hand saw
• Erosion Control using shovel
• Fence/Gate Repair & Maintenance in Vineyards using post hole digger and pliers
• Fruit Thinning with thinning shears
• Hoeing in vine rows using hand hoe (5 ft.) and shovel
• Install Drip System using shovel
• Install Sprinkler System/New Vineyards using shovel
• Install Vineyard Deer Fences using post hole digger and shovel
• Install Wires/New Vineyards using pliers and wire tensioner tool
• Leaf Removal
• Make (Select) Budwood using pruning shears
• Perimeter Maintenance of Vineyards using chain saws, weed eaters and loppers
• Planting using shovels
• Remove Diseased Vines using shovel
• Replanting using shovel
• Root Removal with repetitive bending down
• Shoot Tipping with hedge trimmers and pruning shears
• Staking using hand-held post pounder
• Suckering
• Tractor Driving (once training has been completed by certified trainer)
• Training with pruning shears, ring knife and hand saw
• Trellis Repair & Maintenance of vineyards using hand held post pounder and pliers
• Trim Vines/Rootstock using pruning shears
• Tying using ring knife and pruning shears
• Weed Eating Vine Rows using gas-powered weed eater

See addendum C.

Special Requirements

1 month of farming experience is required. Experience with wine grapes and/or vineyards is not required, training will be provided. No smoking, drinking, or illegal weapons or controlled substances in the fields or in housing. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops. Able to stoop, bend, and work in cold and wet conditions. Able to use tools such as pruning shears, grape knives, hand saws, weed eaters, hedgers, shovels. Workers may use chains saws. Safety use and training provided by employer. Workers must abide by Employer housing rules. Proficiency in English or Spanish is required for training and safety purposes. (i.e. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of Employer supervisors and managers.)

See Addendum C.