General Farm / Irrigation Worker

Number of Workers Requested:  7

Worker will be required to perform a variety of duties related to the production of organic alfalfa hay and organic wheat hay. The majority of the work activities during the overall contract period, however, will be related to general farm work/irrigation/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; make minor mechanical adjustments and repairs on farm machinery; remove undesirable and excess growth from crops or farm grounds; remove rocks from field; paint/repair/maintain farm structures; replace/repair fencing; perform general cleanup of farm areas; drive, load/unload pickup trucks; 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. Wheel lines: start gasoline engines and operate controls to move lines across fields at specified intervals. Pivots: operate, maintain, and repair system. Flood Irrigation: lift gate in side 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; mix and apply proper solutions to fill holes/cracks in pipes, ditches, and spillways; maintain and 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.