What are the responsibilities and job description for the Farmworker: Diversified (45-2092.00) position at Jones Farm?
Workers will Plant, Cultivate, and harvest the following Crops: Tobacco, Strawberries, and Fresh Cut Flowers.
Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance (ability to continue or last) to repeat the harvest process though out the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Workers must work at a sustained (continuing for an extended period of time without interruption), vigorous pace (quick and steady) and make bona fide efforts (made in earnest intent) to work efficiently (performing or functions in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort) and consistently (same way for a long time) that are reasonable under the climatic and other working conditions, Workers may not leave trash, or other discarded items in work areas or vehicles but must dispose of such items in provided receptacles. Workers must wash hands with soap and water after all bathroom and meal breaks. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, related agricultural chemicals, etc, may affect worker’s ability to perform the work described herein.
BURLEY TOBACCO/DARK FIRED TOBACCO: Workers will seed, set, cut, house, and strip tobacco. Workers will plant tobacco seeds in trays kept in environmentally controlled structure. When seedlings reach appropriate size, workers will transplant seedlings to prepared beds according to supervisors’ instructions. Workers will pull 6 to 10-inch-tall plants from a plant bed one at a time. The stems of the plant must not be bruised. The plants are put into bundles with roots at the same end so they can be transplanted. The bundles are hauled to the field for transplanting into separate rows 38 to 42 inches apart. The plants are spaced in the row from 16 to 20 inches apart. Machines pulled by a small tractor are used to transplant the tobacco. Workers will chop out weeds with a hoe or pull by hand. Workers will remove tops and suckers from plants. Workers using a tobacco knife will cut ripe plants off at ground level and spear the tobacco stalk over metal spear onto wooden stick (stick is 48 inches long, one end is stuck in ground, and metal spear is placed on the other end). Industry standard is six (6) plants per stick (stick and six (6) plants may weigh 80 pounds, and plants may be seven (7) feet tall). Workers may drop sticks in standing tobacco before cutting by hand or by machine.
Worker will transfer tobacco-loaded sticks from ground to wagon or trailer and load sticks in orderly fashion on said wagon or trailer. Workers will be required to climb into the barns to hang sticks of tobacco. Worker will then transfer sticks from wagon or trailer to other workers standing on rails in tobacco-curing barn. Workers standing on rails (worker stands with one foot on each rail -- rails may be 48 inches apart and from 6 to 40 feet from ground) will either hang stick and separate plants or will transfer to another worker for purposes of air-curing the tobacco. For best results, curing barns should be filled in as short a time as possible.
With dark fired tobacco, wooden slabs covered with sawdust are placed under the tobacco that is hanging in the barn. The slabs are fired to smoke the tobacco. Workers will be required to cut wood and carry to barn to fire the tobacco. This process is repeated until the tobacco turns the appropriate color. Remaining ashes must be cleared away after firing the tobacco.
Salary : $12