Agriculture, Forestry & Agricultural Equipment Operator

All applicants must be able, willing, and qualified to perform the work described in this job description and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in box A.3 & A.4. This work order is for qualified people to perform agricultural work and working in a commercial scale maple sugaring operation. Workers must be willing to work in cold weather as low as (minus) -15 degrees (F) and work on snow covered ground exceeding 4 feet in depth with snowshoes provided. Employer will provide the following cold weather apparel: winter boots, jacket, snow pants, gloves, mittens, hat, and baclava. Cold weather clothing in addition to these items shall be provided by the employee. Due to Vermont’s extreme weather some weeks may require the workers to work longer hours. Workers may use precision tree-sap tapping equipment, operate agricultural equipment to include tractor with loader and rear mounted attachments, pick-up truck, ATV and chainsaw. Workers may operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (whether on or off farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday (including on public roads to reach farmer's fields); and/or transport workers to the grocery store, bank, or laundry facilities on an as-needed basis. Those that are requested to drive will be required to possess a valid driver’s license, no worker will be rejected for not having a driver's license. Workers will be compensated at the correct rate of pay for all hours worked, including when they are performing the employer’s obligation of driving. This position involves precision coring of "tapholes" in trees; precision insertion and setting of spouts; crimping, cutting, and connecting food-grade flexible pvc tubing; and installation and repairing of various diameter food-grade flexible pvc pipe/tubing (up to 2'). The work assigned will be physically demanding, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, and walking for most of the day in woods and mountainous environments for long periods of time will be required. Workers will clear snow and brush, install, replace, maintain & remove tubing systems, tap maple trees, evaluate health of sugar maples for potential sap production, monitor sap flow level in tubing, pull taps at the end of the season and clean equipment. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and be available to work Monday through Saturday. Workers are required to work 7 hours shift within the hours of 7:00am to 7:00pm from Monday to Thursday, and workers are required to work 6 hours shift within the hours of 7:00am to 7:00pm from Friday and Saturday. This schedule totals 40 hours per week. The 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. range reflects the seasonal and weather-dependent nature of maple tapping operations, including variability in sap flow and collection conditions. This flexibility ensures workers can complete their required weekly hours while responding to daily production needs. Workers will not be scheduled to work a full 12-hour shift. Workers may offer additional hours beyond the standard schedule, subject to the mutual agreement of the workers and management. Workers will be provided with at least a 30-minute lunch break, staggered between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as determined by both the workers and management. Workers may choose where to eat their lunch and must return to work after the 30-minute break. The daily and weekly work schedules may vary due to weather conditions, temperature, sap flow, forest conditions, equipment needs, or other factors related to maple production. The employer will notify workers of any changes to the schedule. The employer will provide one day of training and two days of work to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the duties described in this work order.

Requirements: 1 months of experience.