Farmworker

Crops/Commodities

Sweet Corn, Sugarcane

Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays)

Sweet Corn

Workers will manually harvest and pack sweet corn by hand and machine. Corn harvesting will be performed mule train and corn belt style in crews on approximately 20 pullers. Workers will be pulling sweet corn off the stalk and tossing it into a metal bin on the mule train or corn belt. Workers will walk behind, in front of, or drive the mule train or corn belt. Workers must keep up with the mule train/corn belt as it moves slowly through the field at a speed ranging from ½ mile to one mile per hour. Assemble boxes/crates on the top of the mule train. Packers will pick corn out of the bins and place 48 ears into pre-made crates. Packed crates are then moved to workers who will fold and close the lid of the crates and push them down the conveyor belt system. Loaders will then lift and stack the full crates of corn onto the truck. Timekeepers will count and check the crates as they are loaded onto the truck and maintain daily log of hours and record the number of harvested boxes. Corn is harvested in the early morning hours starting before daylight, while temperatures are cooler. This ensures that the sugar content of the corn is higher and provides a better-quality product. A generator powered lighting system is used during early morning hours. Workers will avoid harvesting ears of corn with discolored husks, unacceptable shanks (longer than 6 inches) or visible worn or damaged shanks. Sweet corn must be harvested by pulling down while bending and reaching to select mature ears. Workers must carefully select ears of corn of correct size and maturity and toss into bin. Workers will assist in Good Agricultural Practices policies. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are recommended to minimize contact with plants and thereby reduce exposure to cuts and scrapes. Gloves are recommended when working with wooden crates. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All drug testing and background checks will occur during the interview process and will be conducted at the sole cost and discretion of the employer.

Cane Planting

Plant and harvest sugarcane. Prepare fields for planting. Hand plant sugarcane in rows at designated intervals. Drain excess water from fields. Chop/segment sugarcane stalks with machetes or other tools as directed by employer. Operate and control sugarcane combine, and/or follow harvester on foot through field and pick up dropped sugarcane. Load and unload harvested sugarcane. Transport harvested sugar cane on farm and/or to mill for processing.

Farm Equipment Operations

Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery. Adjust speeds of cutters, blowers, and conveyors and height of cutting head. Clean, adjust, repair, and perform routine service on equipment (e.g., lubricating grease points, inspecting and maintaining fluid levels, checking belt and conveyor tensions, and maintaining tires, wheels, bearings, belts, and other wear parts). Repair or replace defective parts. Attach farm implements (e.g., plows, harrows, discs, sprayers) using hand tools. May assist with other general farm maintenance or repairs.

Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by supervisors in the planting, cultivation, maintenance, weeding, harvesting, packing, and post-harvest handling of agricultural commodities. Duties may include field preparation, irrigation installation and maintenance, hand weeding, planting, staking, tying, harvesting, field packing, sanitation, and general farm labor activities.

Requirements: 2 months of experience. This job requires a minimum of 2 months of verifiable agricultural experience handling both manual and mechanized tasks including agricultural field work. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work will required and Sunday work will be available on a voluntary basis. Must be physically able to meet and perform all job specifications stated in job order.Workers must be able to lift/carry 70lbs. Must be able to work in the hot humid weather for extended periods of time. Workers are subject to post hire and random drug testing at no cost to the employee. Failing or refusing a drug test will result in immediate termination.