Field Worker

Work description

Crops: Seed corn Seed corn field worker responsibilities include planting, sampling, weeding, rouging, detasseling, shoot bagging, pollinating, harvesting, shelling, and other duties relating to growing and processing the crop. Planting includes riding the planter to distribute crop seeds, walking behind the planter to ensure drip tube and seeds are properly installed in ground, and applying stakes for markers, secure drip irrigation and connecting to lines. Sampling includes taking leaf or crop samples. Weeding includes utilizing various tools to manually remove weeds. Rouging includes identifying and removing undesirable plants based on quality, yield, or market requirements. Detasseling involves the removal of the tassels from the plant. Shoot bagging involves covering the plant shoots at various stages of plant growth. Pollination includes installation and removal of pollination bags and pollinating and covering shoots. Harvesting involves manually harvesting crops. Shelling involves manually shelling corn after it has dried and ensure it is properly identified and tagged. Processing involves sorting, grading, and packing agricultural crop seeds. Gleaning includes gathering ears from the ground. Other tasks may include removal of drip tape from the field either manually or mechanically, field net deployment and retrieval, manually moving potted plants out of shade houses to the field, cleaning shade houses and other general farm clean up. Field workers will utilize various tools and equipment, including, but not limited to conveyors, washers, separators, dryers, scales, silos, moisture meters, forklifts, trucks and trailers (on farm only), tractors, sprayers, sizers, color sorters, baggers, cleaning equipment, computers, and various hand tools. Field workers will be given the task procedures and specific training for each task. Field workers will continuously strive to do each duty with expertise and produce quality products. Working safely is a condition of employment. GENERAL REQUIRMENTS: Field workers are responsible for safety related matters, including attending mandatory paid safety trainings. Work may be performed in indoor or outdoor agricultural locations involving exposure to the sun, soil, mud, dust, heat, cold, rain and other natural elements. Work may be performed on uneven ground and requires constant movement. Workers must be able to stand, walk up and down hills, sit, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, bend (from the waist), push, pull, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 75 pounds. Workers must be able to withstand working in direct sunlight and conditions ranging from hot and humid weather, moderate rain, and cold while performing their required job duties. Workers should come prepared wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described. Work entails exposure to soil, plants, insects, and materials such as, but not limited to pesticides and fertilizers. Workers may be asked, but not required, to work up to 10+ hours per day and/or on the Sabbath or Federal holidays depending upon the conditions in the fields, weather, and maturity of the crop. Workers are reminded to always be respectful, safety minded, be a team player, and good stewards of the environment and others. Workers must follow housing and transportation rules for the safety and comfort of the workers.