Agriculture, Forestry and Agricultural Equipment Operator

The Forest Farmers, LLC; Marshfield (VT); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-provided housing

Weekly town transportation

Job summary

H2Ajobs in Vermont seeks workers for a maple sugaring operation. You will tap trees, install and maintain tubing, and operate farm equipment in a 40-hour week schedule. Housing is provided, and transportation to town is offered weekly.

Experience required: 1 month in agricultural work. You must lift up to 50 pounds and follow safety rules; basic English is needed. A valid driver’s license is preferred as some driving may be required.

Qualifications

• 1 month prior experience performing agricultural work.
• Able to work in cold weather and on snow‑covered ground.
• Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly.
• Willing to follow safety protocols and work variable hours.
• Able to take direction in simple English.

Responsibilities

• Perform precision coring of tap-holes in trees and set spouts.
• Install and repair tubing and piping up to 3 inches.
• Maintain tubing systems and monitor sap flow and health of maples.
• Operate tractors/UTVs and transport crew as needed.
• Assist with housing, meals, and weekly town trips as specified.

Skills

Physical stamina

Driver's license

Basic English

Teamwork

Tools

Tapping equipment

Tractor with loader

UTV

Pickup truck

Chainsaw

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 should report for work with their own suitable clothing and must be willing to work in cold weather as low as 10 degrees F and work on snow covered ground up to 3 feet. Workers will use precision tree-sap tapping equipment, operate agricultural equipment to include tractor with loader and rear mounted attachments, UTV, and/or pick-up truck; and chainsaw. Workers may 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. Those 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. The work is physically demanding and requires prolonged periods of bending, crouching, kneeling, stooping, walking, and standing. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis. 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. 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, leak checking, set and monitor filter press, pull taps at the end of the season and clean equipment on a regular basis. Employer will furnish to workers without cost all tools and equipment required to perform duties assigned. Workers are required to work a 7 hour shifts within the hours of 7:00am to 7:00pm from Monday through Friday, and a 5-hour shift on Saturday within the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. This schedule totals 40 hours per week. The 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 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, sugarbush 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. Workers must be able to take direction in simple English. Workers must be able to consistently follow established safety protocols while using tools and performing assigned duties.

Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)

Meals: Employers will not provide meals. Workers will purchase and prepare food in the employer provided (or secured housing) fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, stove, pots, pans, utensils, and counter space free of charge. Employers will provide transportation in a five (5) passengers seater Toyota Tundra Pick truck once a week at no cost to the worker to take care of personal errands, such as to the grocery store to purchase food, MoneyGram, Western Union, and any other incidentals.

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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