Agriculture, Forestry & Agricultural Equipment Operator

Ben's Pure Maple Products, LLC; Temple (NH); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Transportation to town provided

Cold-weather clothing provided

Job summary

H2ajobs seeks workers for a maple sugaring operation in New Hampshire. The role involves precision tapping, installing and maintaining tubing, and monitoring sap flow in cold conditions. Training is provided and prior experience in agricultural work is preferred.

Workers must lift up to 50 pounds, work 8.5-hour shifts on weekdays and 7.5 hours on Saturdays, and be prepared for a 50-hour week with rotating days off. Housing is provided, meals are not, and transportation to town may be available.

Qualifications

• 1 month prior experience performing agricultural work in a commercial maple sugaring operation.
• Must be able to work outside in cold weather down to -15°F.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand, bend, and kneel for long periods.
• Willing to drive trucks if required during the work.
• Flexible schedule with 50 hours per week and rotating days off.

Responsibilities

• Precision coring of tap-holes in trees.
• Insertion and setting of spouts and connecting tubing.
• Install, repair, and maintain food-grade tubing and piping up to 3 inches.
• Clear brush and maintain tubing systems and taps.
• Monitor sap flow and operate equipment like filter press; clean up at season end.

Skills

Maple tapping

Driver's license

Equipment operation

Physical stamina

Job description

All applicants must be able, willing, and qualified to perform the work described in this job description and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in box A.3 & A.4. This work order is for qualified people with 1-month prior experience performing agricultural work and working in a commercial scale maple sugaring operation. Workers must be willing to work in cold weather as low as (minus) -15 degrees (F) and work on snow covered ground exceeding 4 feet in depth with snowshoes provided. Employer will provide the following cold weather apparel: winter boots, jacket, snow pants, gloves, mittens, hat, and baclava. Cold weather clothing in addition to these items shall be provided by the employee. This position involves precision coring of "tap-holes" in trees; precision insertion and setting of spouts; crimping, cutting, and connecting food-grade flexible tubing; and installation and repairing of various diameter food-grade flexible pipe/tubing up to 3". Workers will clear brush install, replace and maintain & remove tubing systems, tap maple trees, evaluate health of sugar maples for potential sap production, monitor sap flow level in tubing, set and monitor filter press, pull taps at the end of the season and clean equipment on a regular basis. Workers may be asked to operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (whether on or off farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday including on public roads to reach farmer's fields; and/or transport workers to the grocery store, bank, or laundry facilities on an as -needed basis. Workers that are requested to drive will be required to possess a valid driver’s license; no worker will be rejected for not having a driver's license. Workers who do drive will still perform the same field work and other duties as non-driving workers; driving is not a primary duty. Workers will be compensated at the correct rate of pay for all hours worked, including when they are performing the employer’s obligation of driving. Work requires long periods of standing, bending and kneeling. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and be available to work Monday through Sunday. Employer will furnish to workers without cost all tools and equipment required to perform duties assigned. Workers are required to work 8.5 hour shifts within the hours of 6:00am to 6:00pm from Monday through Friday, and a 7.5 hour shift within the hours of 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday. Each worker will have [one] day off per week. Days off will be rotated among workers and will fall on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The specific day for each worker will be agreed upon between the worker and management, and may be adjusted by mutual agreement based on weather and operational needs. This schedule totals 50 hours per week. The 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. range reflects the seasonal and weather-dependent nature of maple tapping operations, including variability in sap flow and collection conditions. This flexibility ensures workers can complete their required weekly hours while responding to daily production needs. Workers may offer additional hours beyond the standard schedule, subject to the mutual agreement of the workers and management. Workers will be provided with at least a 30-minute lunch break, staggered between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as determined by both the workers and management. Workers may choose where to eat their lunch and must return to work after the 30-minute break. The daily and weekly work schedules may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, or other factors. The employer will notify workers of any changes to the schedule. The employer will provide one day of training and two days of work to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the duties described in this work order.

Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)

Meals: The employer will not provide meals. Workers will be responsible for purchasing and preparing their own food in the employer-provided (or secured) housing. The housing unit will include a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, cooking utensils, pots, pans, and adequate counter space, provided at no cost to the worker. The employer will provide transportation in a 5 passenger seater Ford F-150 pickup truck at least once per week, at no cost to workers residing in employer-provided housing, so they may attend to personal errands such as grocery shopping, banking, and other essential needs.

Transport: The employer will reimburse the H-2A worker in the first workweek for all visa, visa processing, border crossing, and other related fees, including those mandated by the government, incurred by the H-2A worker. If the worker completes 50% of the work contract period, employer will reimburse the worker for transportation and subsistence from the place of recruitment to the place of work. Upon completion of the work contract or where the worker is dismissed earlier, employer will provide or pay

Experience wanted: 1 months

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