Farm Workers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Planting: Workers may be required to work as operators of wheel tractors pulling planters and planting wagons. Workers may be required to work on the ground planting trees that are fed through a tractor pulled planter-using shovels. Workers will be required to dig trees and shake excess dirt. Workers will also be required to plant trees by hand. Workers will bre responsible for putting tied trees in sawdust for storage.

Pruning: When pruning, it is vital to prune the unwanted branch while protecting the stem or trunk wood of the tree. While pruning trees, workers will receive proper tools for the particular job, i.e., saw, prunes, and hand snips. These tools will be returned to the employer at the end of the task. The cost of tools destroyed maliciously or lost carelessly will be deducted from worker's wages. Workers will be responsible for picking back budded trees, staking trees, and tying trees to the stakes. Workers will assist with budding and grafting.

Bare root tree production: Workers may be required to work on the ground tying branches with twine or hauling trees through the field and loading them onto trucks by hand. Workers will be responsible for identifying, budding & grafting bare root trees and seedlings. Workers will also hoe, weed, and grade bare root trees. Previous experience with budding and grafting is preferred but not required.

Loading and unloading: Workers may be required to work loading or unloading bare root trees by hand into refrigerated trailers. Workers may be required to pack and load boxes and trucks for shipping. Workers maybe required to load 1, 2, or 3 Gal. containers onto wagons and into trailors or on trucks.

Nursery:
Duties to include, but not limited to: Tasks to be in relations to greenhouse & nursery activities such as mowing, weeding & trimming equipment, chopping weeds around plantings, staking, trimming and prepare plants for planting, and potting plants. Moving plant items from field to loading area.

Alternative Work;
General farm maintenance and other duties as required in the farming operation maintenance. Includes, but not limited to, preparing barns, draining fields, preparing land for planting, maintenance of tools & equipment, and other work as directly related to the crop activities for which the worker is hired. Also includes fixing, clearing, and painting of fences / barns. Such work will be offered when climate or crop conditions preclude working in the primary activities listed above.

General Conditions:
A normal work week is Monday through Friday from 07:00 a.m. to 03:30 p.m and Saturday 07:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If work is available beyond normal workdays, employer may offer, but not require, worker an opportunity to work additional hours. Workers will report to work at designated time and place as directed by assigned employer each day. However, workers may be requested to ten (10) hours per day depending on the conditions in the fields and the maturity of the crops. Also, workers may be requested to work on federal holidays and their Sabbath but will not be required to do so. Workers may volunteer to work additional hours when work is available.

Down time: Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer’s control. These periods can occur any time throughout the season. Worker may be required to work in fields when crops are wet with dew / rain and should have suitable clothing for conditions which include light rain and temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to more than 100 degrees. Workers should be able to stand, bend, stoop and work for prolonged periods of time and be physically fit to perform duties as assigned. Workers will be trained for period of two (2) days (14 hours) after which workers will be expected to perform job required. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising or breaking crops. Care must be used with any use of equipment.

Special Requirements

Physically able to bend, stoop, and able to stand on feet for long periods of time. Physically able to meet and perform all job specifications. May be required to take random drug and / or alcohol tests, at no cost to the worker. Testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment. All testing and background check will occur after employment has started and is not a part of the interview process. May be required to submit a criminal background check, at no cost to the worker. Felony convictions that employer reasonably believes, consistent with current law, will impair the safety and living conditions of other workers or other individuals on the farm will result in immediate termination. Failure to comply with request for criminal background check may result in immediate termination of employment.