Farmworkers And Laborers

Job description

The farm work position includes duties associated with the planting, cultivation and harvesting of tobacco. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards. This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, teambased attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and end consumers.

Job Specifications
Tobacco: Harvest workers will move into a row of mature tobacco plants. The tobacco plant may be from 4 to 6 feet tall and spaced about 20 inches apart in each row. Starting at the bottom of the plant, the worker will bend over at the waist and pick the bottom two or three leaves from each plant. Staying bent over, the worker will move down the row of mature tobacco repeating the above process. The bottom leaves may be as low as two inches from the ground. The worker will place the picked leaves under his arm. Once the worker has gathered an armload of leaves, he will carry it to a field sled. The leaves must be laid neatly onto the field sled. The worker will then return to the row and repeat the process. All workers must be able to distinguish ripe tobacco by observing the color of the leaves. Care must be exercised to prevent breaking of the plants. Workers must be able to move quickly along the rows and move in unison with the field sleds. Workers may ride mechanical transplanter, B&O Harvester, (to hand harvest), and mechanical harvester. Workers may walk behind transplanter to reset missing plants. Workers must remove all flowering tops and suckers from tobacco plants. Workers may assist in removing tobacco from barn and baling it to be loaded on trucks. Weight of sheets of tobacco may be 300lbs. Workers are required to work in fields when tobacco leaves are wet with dew or rain. Worker should be able to stand for prolonged periods of time to prime (pull) leaves, which are from two to ten inches from the ground. Workers may be exposed to noxious plants, insects and insect control sprays.

Field Maintenance: Workers will be responsible for general field maintenance. They will rake up debris from the land such as sticks, straw, etc. They will be responsible for the removal of old and unproductive plants. They must take care to not damage or destroy other plants or property in the area. Workers involved in field maintenance may be required to perform various tasks such as mending fences, irrigation, ditching, hoeing, spreading fertilizer, picking up roots and limbs, stripping suckers or unwanted growth from plants, weeding, and using hand sprayers in fields. Workers will help maintain, install and repair irrigation systems.

Tractor and Forklift Operation During Field & Packing Operations: Workers may be required to operate forklifts, trucks, tractors, lulls and cotton pickers during field operations as incidental. Before any worker is required to operate any machinery, the worker will be instructed in the proper and safe operation. Workers will be required to operate forklifts and tractors according to instructions and in a manner that protects the operator, other workers and equipment. Workers will help maintain equipment by greasing, checking fluid and operating and air compressor. Repeated failure to obey operating and safety instructions may result in termination.

Special Requirements

Employer may conduct drug testing and criminal backgrounds checks post-employment and at the employer's expense.