Farm Laborer

Job description

General Vineyard / Apple Orchard Laborer:
Pruning: Worker will be required to prune numerous varieties of grape vines according to established company procedures based on the difference in the treatment of different varieties.
Hand Planting/Establishing Vineyards and Orchards: Worker will plant vineyards and trees. These tasks will include repetitive and physically demanding shovel work, use of post-hole digger, and hydraulic post pounder to install posts. Worker will provide general labor to assist in the establishment of new vineyard and orchard properties by clearing and/or preparing property, planting vines/trees and other labor considered necessary for the efficient structure of new vineyard and orchard properties. Worker may be required to lift and set heavy wood or steel posts weighing up to 60 pounds. Workers will be required to pull wire and carry/lift and place rolls of wire weighing approximately 100 pounds; this task will be completed between 2 workers with lifting requirement for each of 50 pounds. Worker will be required to place anchors. Worker will be required to complete trellis installation and repair by using a wire cutter and attaching or reattaching wire to posts with staples which will be pounded into posts.

Worker will safely ride on a planter machine, pulled behind a tractor, to hand plant new vines. Worker will install irrigation. Worker will apply, remove and dispose of plastic mulch.
Vine re-planting: Worker will be required to dig out dead vines with a shovel and/or in conjunction with a tractor and auger and place a new vine in the hole, replacing the soil (with the graft 2 inches above the soil line) and gently tamp down around the new vine. Worker will then install a vine stave, tie the stave to the tie wire and tie the vine to the stave then place a grow tube around the new vine. This may be done in conjunction with use of an RTV.

Vine layering: Worker tasks include dead vine removal with a shovel and/or in conjunction with a tractor and auger. Worker will use a cane that is growing from the base of the neighboring vine. Worker will cut a small “v” in the new cane, as directed by manager, and apply rooting hormone to the cut area. Worker will then dig out a trench/hole where the cane from the neighboring plant will be placed. Worker will replace the soil and gently tamp down. Worker will install stave and tie to the tie wire of the trellis. Worker will tie the new buried cane to the stave. Worker may utilize grow tube may be used as part of process.

Vineyard Maintenance: Worker will complete vineyard clean up tasks to include:
• Worker will pick up garbage around vineyard.
• Worker will pick up sticks and rocks throughout the vineyard.
• Worker will perform vineyard canopy management to permit light and air to circulate around grapevines, including thinning fruit and removing shoots, leaves and vines.
• Worker will select and remove clusters as needed, as directed by supervisor.
• Worker may be required to hedge upper canopy by hand.
• Worker will conduct replacement, removal and general maintenance of bird netting, deer fencing, and electric fences.
• Worker will remove twine.
• Worker will conduct irrigation installation, repair and maintenance.
• Worker will perform complete cane winter protection tasks, including laying canes down on irrigation wire and securing to the wire using tie material
• Worker will weed by hand or using hoe.
• Worker will apply and remove netting.
• Worker will pull and install wire.
• Hand Hedging: Worker will use machete or pruners to cut the tops and sides of the vineyard row.
• Worker will perform pruning on vines for long periods of time.
• Brush pulling: Worker will remove pruned canes from the trellis and put in the row middle.
• Tying: Worker will wrap canes around the tie wire and secure with tie material. Worker will generally use a staple or twist tie to complete task.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable commercial agriculture experience in outdoor fruit or vegetable crops required. Applicants must furnish references from employers from the past five years establishing acceptable prior experience. Drug testing is conducted post hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process. Employer may require alcohol and drug testing if reasonable suspicion that worker is under influence at work, when worker suffers injury and requires medical attention or regulatory agency reporting either while on duty, or while on employer's work premises. Testing may also be required if worker is involved in workplace injury resulting in damage to property or injury to others.