Farm Worker Jobs in Florida

Crops/Commodities: sweet corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, field corn, peanuts, and sod.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The worker will perform various duties related to the production of sod and possibly other crops such as sweet corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, field corn, and peanuts. However, most tasks during the contract period will focus on general farm work, irrigation, and crop production.

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 and palletize sod
• Plant, cultivate, harvest crops by hand
• Prepare soil
• 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
• Plant/repair/maintain farm structures
• Maintain/repair fencing
• Perform general cleanup and sanitation of farm areas and equipment
• Drive, load/unload farm trucks
• Load/unload trailers, etc.
• Sow grass seed
• Sod large areas
• Plant plugs of sod
• Cut, roll, and stack sod by hand
• Fertilize, spray, monitor, trim, mow, load, move, and discard sod
• Repair/stack wood pallets
• Roll nets over planted sod
• Monitor seeds during planting process and maintain product in various stages of production
• Lift sod from conveyor and stack
• Lift/carry/load/unload supplies and materials
• Assist with and maintain Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) policies and procedures
• Operate vehicle, motor bike, or all-terrain vehicle in the course of performing duties
• Perform any other duties associated with the production of sod and other agricultural commodities
• Workers processing the proper licensure may be asked to transport other farm workers

Irrigation Duties:

• 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
• Repair/maintain underground irrigation system
• Dig/clear/maintain ditches
• 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

Workers must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or another pair of durable footwear. Workers wearing inappropriate clothing for work will not be permitted to start work.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may perform duties including boxing, weighing, loading/unloading, and installation of sod produced by Woerner Agribusiness, LLC at various locations. Outdoor work required when plants are wet, or during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours may vary. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honeybees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job.