Farm Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Corn, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelon, squash, eggplant, collards, strawberries, grain (corn & soybeans).
Plants, cultivates and harvests crops, including corn, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelon, squash, eggplant, collards, strawberries, grain (corn and soybeans). Works on planter, plants roots, seeds and bulbs. May spread plastic or other ground covering. Weeds, thins plants. Transplants plants, riding on transplanter or by hand. May set poles and wires for vine plants. Picks, cuts, lifts, or pulls crops to harvest them. May assist with irrigation. May operate and help maintain tractors or hand-operated equipment. May assist with general farm building maintenance. Workers will help set the plants in rows in fields and help cultivate product as needed in transplanting or replanting. Mix and apply fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Workers will assist with packing crops in the field and in the packing house. Workers will grade and sort product.

Work is to be done in the field for long periods of time. Workers are expected to perform duties including boxing, weighing and loading of product. Workers will assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to and including 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet for long periods of time. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day, working in fields. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations.

Work may also include mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include tractors, planters, sprayers, cultivators and other equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may transport other workers.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Persons seeking employment as experienced farm worker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a five-day trial period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the trial period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a diversified crop farm handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.