Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop

Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. Agricultural Equipment Operator to operate equipment used to harvest crops and prepare the land for planting. Worker will operate power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, general tillage equipment, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, forklifts, skid loaders, and pickup trucks. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, utilizing proper operational discretion in a manner that protects the operator, other employees, crops, trees, facilities, and equipment. Apply pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other crop protectants. Following established farm protocols, mix and apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant-related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate, and crop conditions. Assist with basic farm building/field maintenance and minor structural repairs. May perform routine equipment cleaning and minor shop work strictly as incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations. Maintain harvest equipment by performing operator preventative maintenance, minor field repairs, and routine mechanical adjustments on vehicles, production equipment, field-packing equipment, tractors, wagons, and farming implements used in the operation.

Must be able to reach, bend, and lift items weighing 70 pounds. Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Workers who have a clean driving record and proper licensing may be asked to operate standard farm vehicles and agricultural tractors on public roads adjacent to the farm footprint to transport farm equipment, crops, and supplies between local field locations. May operate forklifts in the field and designated farm storage areas to load, unload, and move agricultural supplies and harvesting equipment.

The alternative work if needed will be to assist with a variety of farm tasks, including planting vegetables by placing one plant per hole from trays, harvesting vegetables into buckets and preparing boxes for packing, and maintaining fields through pruning, staking, and weeding. Additionally, workers may perform alternative general farm work as needed, such as laying plastics, cleaning up fields, and checking irrigation systems.

General Farm Maintenance and Other Activities: When primary planting or harvesting work is temporarily unavailable due to weather conditions, crop conditions, operational needs, or other lawful business reasons, workers may perform agricultural work that is incidental to and in conjunction with the primary duties listed in this job order. These duties will not replace or substantially reduce the availability of primary agricultural work.

Incidental duties may include general manual cleanup of the worksite and agricultural structures; weeding, trimming, digging, cutting, topping, and removing weeds, vines, debris, and trash from fields and fence lines by hand or using basic hand tools; and the routine manual installation, repositioning, flushing, connecting, disconnecting, and removal of plastic mulch, irrigation drip tape, and micro-jets under direct supervisor direction. Field sanitation activities may include cleaning, disinfecting, and performing routine upkeep of harvest buckets, bins, trailers, hand tools, and similar agricultural equipment. Workers may also assist with washing and removing dirt and plant residue from farm vehicles, harvest trailers, bins, and equipment.

Requirements: 3 months of experience. This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning. Due to the type of work involved, there is a Probationary Period of five (5) days beginning with the first day of employment, to show possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to perform this type of work.