What are the responsibilities and job description for the Farm Worker position at Cohen Farms?
Multiple contract dates available. Alternative start date(s) include: 07/20/2026 (15 workers). The exact start date and/or number of workers may vary based on weather, crop conditions or other factors.
Crops/Commodities: Tobacco, pumpkins, gourds, squash, hay, straw, rye, oats, barley, wheat, corn, soybeans, and mums.
Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays):
Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. This job requires work in fields and barn/curing structures performing manual and machine tasks associated with tobacco. This includes planting, cultivating, and “setting up” plants after storms. Workers will receive worker protection training as worker, handler, and early entry worker. Chop and top tobacco plants. Cut and lay plants on ground, pick up plants (2-3 each), hand plants to spearer, spear plants onto lath, load onto riggings. Pass lath progressively upward in shed and hang lath onto poles, standing at considerable height. Clean and set up burners in each shed and hook up propane to be functional. After curing, remove burners and equipment, take down tobacco, and strip/bundle leaves for market, taking care to prevent damage to plants at all stages to ensure wrapper-quality product.
This job requires the harvest of pumpkins, gourds and squash, which entails cutting the vines, carrying and win rowing, sorting, inspecting and packing by size, variety and maturity according to orders.
Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Perform ditching, shoveling, clearing brush, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, fertilize, apply pesticides and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, rakes, machete, hatchets, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies.
Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, skid loaders. Workers must operate equipment, with or without direction, in a manner that protects operator, visitors, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination.
Install, repair, maintain, remove, and monitor curing and associated equipment for tobacco. Clear debris from field and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures and equipment and work areas. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Bale, stack and load hay and straw and pick rocks from fields. Cut, load, split, and stack fire wood.
Work is done in the field and barns/curing structures for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 50 pounds and lifting to a height of 6 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 10 to over 100 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 50 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire upon suspicion drug testing required. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job.
Work requires working on rails in barns/curing structures, which are 48 inches apart and from 6 feet to 20 feet above the ground. Workers must have no fear of working from heights.
Salary : $18