Field Worker

Job description

Field Workers: to perform the following duties on all row crop vegetables.

Crop cleaning/weeding:

Workers walk on uneven furrows. Under the direction of the field supervisor, field workers look for weeds around crops and in between product seed lines and uses a (long handled hoe) to clean out unwanted product. The worker cleans the lot for any unwanted leaves on the beds and seed lines and takes it out of the field as instructed by field supervisor.

Thinning:

Workers walk in uneven furrows. Under the direction of the field supervisor, field workers look for the specified gap between seeds, and using a long-handled hoe thins out any excess crop/seeds and/or weed on the seed line and leaves the desired product and gap on the field. The worker cleans the lot for any unwanted weed on the beds and seed lines and takes it out of the field as instructed by field supervisor.

Hand “manual” Cleaning (“pellizco”)

Workers walk in uneven furrows. Under the direction of the field supervisor, field workers look for weeds around crop and in between product seedlings and have to bend and/or be on their knees to manually clean out unwanted product. The worker manually cleans the lot for any unwanted weed on the beds and seedlings and takes it out of the field as instructed by field supervisor. Employer complies with California rules applicable to hand weeding and short-handled hoes. (Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders; Group 3. General Plant; Equipment and Special Operations; Article 13. Agricultural Operations (Section 3456)

Transplant:

Field workers to perform the following duties: Field workers work on the transplanting machine platform and/or walk on uneven furrows behind a transplanting machine. As the machine moves, the workers working on the machine platform manually load trays of product into the transplanting machine to be inserted automatically by the machine into the soil. As the machine moves forward, under the direction of the field supervisor, the workers walking behind the machine on uneven furrows and have to carry trays of product. As field worker walk, they have to look for gaps not filled in by the transplanting machine. If there are gaps or product not transplanted correctly by the machine, the field worker has to manually grab the product from tray, the workers then bend at the waist and inserts (plants it) in the bed (on soil).

Irrigation: Field worker to perform the following duties:

Irrigation Flood: Workers walk on uneven furrows. Using a shovel, workers shape and/or remove soil gates within the furrow to give access or obstruct water flow in field. Workers have to manually connect plastic irrigation pipes that connect the water source line into the field. These pipes weigh approximately 5lb, are 5ft in length, and 2’’ in width. All work is performed in the field.

Pre-Irrigation: Workers walk on wet uneven furrows and across beds. Field workers move within the field looking for any non-working or clogged sprinklers. Under the direction of the field supervisor, workers make sure sprinklers aren’t clogged or have any pipe disconnected. Pre-irrigation is used to water down soil and prepare the field prior to farming.

Irrigation: Workers walk on uneven furrows. Field workers pick and/or lay sprinklers and irrigation pipes. Employees are grouped in groups of 3 workers. One worker drives the tractor, and the other two workers walk behind a tractor and a trailer that carries aluminum pipes. Under the direction of the field supervisor, the worker grabs the pipes and sprinklers and by bending at the waist they have to manually unload and/or load pipes into the furrow to set the field up for irrigation following transplanting.

Special Requirements

Minimum Job Qualifications: Three (3) months experience in vegetable harvest and general field work is required. Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described. Written verification of experience is required.