Farm Worker

Job duties

Original text, as filed with the Department of Labor.

Workers must be able to perform manual and mechanized tasks with accuracy and efficiency including: Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Use/handle ladders up to 12 ft. in length and weighing up to 40 lbs. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Use power equipment including but not limited to: cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, fork lifts, skid loaders. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs.
Assist with cleaning power equipment, power washing shop and general maintenance of shop.
Plant, cultivate, and harvest grapes and peaches. Performs tasks under supervision in vineyard/orchard operation. Thin fruit and remove shoots and vines.
Thinning: Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit. Performs vineyard maintenance activities, including mowing and weeding. Install and maintain vine trellises.
Tie vines to trellises. Must possess the requisite skills and knowledge of what, when, where and how much to prune on a grape vine. Identify and remove the proper canes and vines while retaining the fruiting wood and renewal spurs. Must demonstrate and consistently utilize pruning practices that assure vine balance and preserve vine health. Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers. Manage vineyard canopy to permit light and air circulation. May perform general tasks relative to vineyard operation when work in vineyard is not available. Spraying: applicant will be required to operate a sprayer and use chemicals responsibly and wear the appropriate PPE that is required. Supervisor will train on PPE requirements depending on the chemical. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. Repeated failure to follow quality control instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers should be able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking.
Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from below 0 to over 100 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job. Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Shorts, bathing suits or other casual clothing not permitted. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural field work experience, preferably working in a vineyard handling both manual ans mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60lbs

Benefits and conditions