Nursery Worker

H2ajobs; Magnolia (MS); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-provided housing

Weekly transportation to town

Meal/food options under housing

Job summary

H2ajobs in Mississippi is seeking a nursery and field worker to perform manual and mechanized tasks in outdoor production of shrubs, trees and other horticultural products. You will plant, cultivate, irrigate, prune, and maintain nursery stock and related plants, while operating tractors and other equipment as needed.

Ideal candidates have at least 2 months of verifiable agricultural experience, the ability to lift 60 lbs, and willingness to work Saturdays.

Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture (minimum 2 months)
• Ability to perform manual and mechanized tasks
• Willing to work outdoors in varying conditions

Responsibilities

• Perform manual and mechanized tasks in outdoor production of horticultural items
• Plant, cultivate, and maintain nursery stock, trees, shrubs, bedding plants, plugs, liners
• Prepare fields/soil for planting and remove debris or obstacles
• Install/maintain irrigation systems and apply plant protection products
• Operate tractors, sprayers, cultivators and other equipment when required
• Maintain safety and wear required PPE at all times
• Assist with field maintenance and packing tasks
• Work Saturdays as required by schedule

Skills

Manual labor

Machinery operation

Outdoor work

Saturday work

Tools

Tractors

Chainsaw

Irrigation systems

Job description

Crops/Commodities:

nursery stock, shrubs, trees.

Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays):

Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the outdoor production of horticultural products. Plant, cultivate, and maintain nursery stock, trees, shrubs, bedding plants, plugs, liners, and other horticultural varieties. Prepare fields/soil for planting. Remove cull stock, debris, tree stumps, brush, ferns, vines and other growth from planting area using hand tools or mechanized equipment (rakes, shovels, hoes, tractors, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes). Plant/pot seedlings or ‘liners' by hand or mechanical planter. Propagate plants from cuttings. Prepare trees for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary. Hand dig trees and other plants with shovel or tree spade. Install horticultural products.

Perform general plant maintenance. Irrigate and apply fertilizer or other chemicals. Train, prune, trim, shear, space, transplant and cull trees and/or plants to ensure availability of marketable products. Shear trees with proper taper and bud cut angle for quality. Tie/position trees and plants by tying or wrapping as necessary. Count, inventory, and grade trees. Select trees for cutting according to grade. Cut trees using axe or chainsaw. Drag cut trees from cutting area. Bale trees using tree baler. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twice and/or stapes. Pack, label, tag, pull, sort, and store plants by variety. Clean/maintain work area.

Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Install and remove levee gates.

Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions.

Work may also include mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include tractors, skid steers, planters, sprayers, cultivators and other equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products and property. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.

Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

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, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Work is done outdoors for long periods of time and requires prolonged periods of standing and/or walking, repetitive movements, and frequent bending and/or stooping. Workers must be able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects (product, containers) in accordance with the specified lifting requirements.

Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has an accident at work.

Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)

Meals: Employer does not provide meals. Employer-provided housing includes free and convenient kitchen facilities with appropriate equipment, appliances, cooking accessories, and dishwashing facilities for meal preparation. For workers residing in employer-provided housing, employer also provides free transportation once per week to/from closest town or city for personal errands (e.g., groceries, banking services). Dining, kitchen/cooking facilities and other common areas are shared by all workers. In the event that kitchen facilities become unavailable during the contract period, employer will provide three daily meals in accordance with 20 CFR 655.122(g). In such circumstances, employer will deduct the cost of such meals up to the maximum allowable amount published in the Federal Register, or as otherwise approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Transport: Employer pays/reimburses foreign workers for all visa-related costs (excluding passport fees) in the first workweek. For non-local workers, employer arranges/provides inbound transportation via common carrier mode of transportation (e.g., bus or plane) and reimburses workers for daily subsistence and reasonable lodging costs, if applicable. Use of employer-offered transportation is voluntary.

Experience wanted: 2 months

This job requires a minimum of 2 months of verifiable agricultural experience working in a nursery handling both manual and mechanized tasks including agricultural field work associated with production of shrubs and trees. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has an accident at work.