Evergreen Nursery Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
conifer/evergreen trees (field and container), and deciduous trees.
This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior experience working in a cultivated evergreen nursery handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be proficient in and familiar with all cultural practices, tools and techniques used in daily operations, including the making of wreaths and roping from greenery produced on the farm, and the operation of compact tractors, nursery mowers, utility task vehicles (UTV's) and skid loaders. Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers, as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency.

Workers will perform heavy manual field work including but not limited to planting, watering, spraying, cultivating, harvesting/cutting and baling trees on a tree farm. Selects trees for cutting according to markings or size, species and grade and fells trees using hand tools. Drags cut trees from cutting area, process trees through tree baler and loads trees onto trucks for transport. May drive trucks or tractors to transport trees from the field to central loading area. Remove cull stock, brush, ferns, vines, debris and other growth from planting area using tractor, mattocks and brush hooks and axes. Plant seedlings or ‘liners' by hand using mattock or dibble (including riding on and inserting liners in a mechanical planter). Load, unload or transplant bare-root nursery stock. Straighten, tie, prune and shear tops and limb tips from trees, as specified by supervisor, to control growth, increase limb density and improve shape. Cut, pull or remove and mow weeds or grass; move irrigation equipment; apply agricultural chemicals: herbicides and insecticides, and apply fertilizer. Make wreaths and roping from cut greenery produced on the farm.

Workers must be able to accurately identify different tree species. Workers will take inventory and grade liner plants, prepare trees for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary; wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples; crimp wire baskets; lift, carry and load balled and burlapped trees and equipment onto trucks for transport; and unload, move or load supplies, including wire baskets. Hand dig trees (with shovel).

Work will also include heavy mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include compact tractors, nursery mowers, power shears, trimmers, forklifts and skid loaders. Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Workers will be expected to operate and maintain agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Workers with appropriate licenses may operate general purpose vehicles to transport workers, equipment and product from one field location or facility to another. Workers may be required to do any other manual tasks involved in the harvesting of trees and the maintenance of tree nurseries, fields and other production areas, including building maintenance, repairing fence and similar tasks.

Work is performed as a member of a crew under close supervision of a field supervisor. Instructions and general supervision will be provided by a designated lead worker or company supervisor. Field workers will be expected to perform their general duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.

Workers must work outdoors in all weather in temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is considered heavy manual labor; to perform the job adequately workers must be able to lift 50-100 lb. over the course of a normal work day. Workers will be expected to work in light snow or rain showers.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior experience working in a cultivated evergreen nursery handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be proficient in and familiar with all cultural practices, tools and techniques used in daily operations, including the making of wreaths and roping from greenery produced on the farm, and the operation of compact tractors, nursery mowers, utility task vehicles (UTV's) and skid loaders. Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers, as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able lift/carry 100 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use.