Job Details

Seasonal Farm Worker Position

Worker will be required to perform a variety of duties related to the production of barley, corn, hay, pasture, potatoes, triticale, wheat, and cattle or the majority of the workdays in the overall contract period, commensurate with the duties encompassed within the five SOC codes comprising the field and livestock workers (combined) category.

Applicants must have 20 days experience with farm, and irrigation work, and livestock care, and provide the contact information of at least one reference who can verify experience and performance. Applicants hired must be able to obtain a valid driver's license as driving on public roads may be required. Applicants must be able to lift 100 pounds. To meet minimum acceptable performance standards when irrigating, the worker must, after a 10-day conditioning period, move an average of at least 48 40-foot sections of 3-inch pipe or 44 40-foot sections of 4-inch pipe per hour under normal working conditions.

Job duties may require a split shift, such as 7:00 to 11:00 AM and 5:00 to 10:00 PM, extended evening hours/shifts, and may be required to work longer hours on Friday or Saturday depending on crop or livestock demands. Work hours may vary and there may be periods when little or no work will be available due to weather, time of year, and the requirements of the cropping program. The worker may be offered work seven days a week, as farmwork must be performed seven days a week. The worker will be required, however, to work the minimum number of hours indicated in Section A / Item 6. The worker may be offered more than the specified hours per day but is only required to work the hours specified. The worker may be requested, but will not be required, to work on his/her Sabbath and/or on Federal holidays.

General farm work will include the following responsibilities: maintain, drive, attach, and operate farm implements/tractors/equipment to till soil, plant, cultivate, fertilize, and harvest crops; make minor mechanical adjustments and repairs on farm machinery; may mix and/or spray chemicals (according to appropriate restrictive use laws, when/if applicable); remove undesirable and excess growth from crops or farm grounds; remove rocks from field; inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences; maintain/repair fencing; perform general cleanup of farm areas; drive, load/unload farm trucks and Ag exempt, non-CDL semi/10-wheel trucks to transport crops from field to storage and/or market; cover/uncover hay stacks (tarp); operate vehicle, motor bike, or all-terrain vehicle in the course of performing duties; workers possessing the proper licensure may be asked to transport other farm workers.

Irrigation duties will include the following: hand lines: connect pipes; check alignment of pipe and adjust for proper water distribution; attach lines to water supply; turn on pump; turn valves to start flow of water; disassemble lines and carry pipes across fields at specified intervals; move pipes through freshly irrigated crops and/or plowed fields where mud may be deep at times; lift and carry pipe sections weighing approximately 40 pounds on a sustained basis. Pivots: operate, maintain, and repair system. Flood irrigation: lift gate inside of flooded irrigation ditch/pipe permitting water to flow into bordered section of field; shovel and pack dirt in low spots of embankment or cut trenches in high areas to direct water flow; close gate in ditch/pipe when bordered section is flooded; open gate or connect pipe to underground pipe system that releases water flow into reservoir or ditch; siphon water from flooded reservoir or ditch to channel water into designated areas; shovel or hoe soil to clear ditches/furrows and build embankments to appropriately channel water; maintain/repair irrigation systems. Other irrigation duties: remove pipes/wheel lines from storage and lay out/place in predetermined patterns in fields; lubricate, adjust, repair, and replace parts such as sprinkler heads and drive chains using hand tools; observe revolving sprinklers and adjust to ensure proper operation and uniform distribution of water; disassemble, service, and store pipes/mainlines/wheel lines after irrigation season.

Duties related to the production of livestock will include the following: check physical characteristics, observe general condition of livestock and apply the appropriate care; examine animals to detect illness/injury/disease, rate of weight gain or to determine offspring delivery time; assist in delivery; apply or administer medications, vaccines and/or insecticides; mix feed/additives and feed/water livestock; place mineral blocks; drive equipment to haul/distribute feed/water; herd livestock; confine livestock in stalls; dock, castrate, brand, clip/tag and clamp livestock; clean/disinfect livestock stalls/corrals/sheds; maintain records on animals; hoist/stack bales of hay onto wagon/truck.