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This is a Temporary Position. Dates of employment are 03/01/2024 to 11/30/2024. To apply: click on "I want to apply" and print and FAX a copy of your resume/application to Judy Popovich at 724-728-7164.  Or, bring a copy of your resume/application in person to the Beaver County PA CareerLink office (285 Beaver Valley Mall, Route 18, Monaca, PA 15061).  Be sure to reference the job posting number on your resume/application.  All resumes/applications are reviewed and only those that match the job specifications are forwarded to the employer for consideration.

Crops/Commodities: nursery stock, trees, shrubs.

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of prior experience working in a tree and shrub nursery preferably including ball and burlap (B&B) field harvesting. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Workers will perform heavy mechanized field work using power equipment.

Take inventory and grade plants, prepare trees and shrubs for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary; dig; wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and securing with twine and/or pin nails; crimping wire baskets; lift, carry and load nursery stock; and unload, move or load supplies, including wire baskets. Hand digging of ornamental evergreens and conifers.

Manual tasks related to the growing of nursery stock will include some combination of the following: preparing fields for planting by clearing cull stock, brush and debris; planting seedlings or 'liners' by hand (including riding and inserting liners in a mechanical planter); digging, loading, unloading or transplanting bare-root nursery stock; straightening, tying, pruning and shearing trees and shrubs; cutting, pulling or removing and mowing weeds or grass; moving irrigation equipment; spraying herbicides and insecticides and applying fertilizer. While fertilizing, workers will be expected to pick up and carry 35 pounds of fertilizer and distribute it with a 4-ounce cup. Accurate visual calibration and proper placement of fertilizer is required.

Most field work is performed in crews of from 3 to 6 workers who will be required to maintain the pace of the average crew member. Crew work may consist of hand hoeing around nursery stock. Weeds are to be removed by the root and not at ground level. Shearing conifers and evergreens must be performed with proper taper and angle of bud cut for quality.

Tasks related to harvest of nursery stock will include the following: taking inventory and grading plants, preparing trees and shrubs for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary; digging; wrapping burlap or other covering around root balls and securing with twine and/or pin nails; crimping wire baskets; lifting, carrying and loading nursery stock; and unloading, moving or loading supplies, including wire baskets. Hand digging of ornamental evergreens and conifers up to 5-6' will be performed by 4-worker crews which will be expected to harvest between 40 and 45 plants per hour.

Plants must be handled carefully to ensure that leaves, limbs and roots are not broken during digging, handling, wrapping and/or transplanting processes.

Mechanized tree spade helpers will work as part of a crew comprised of one operator and 2 helpers. The helper will remove the tree from the tree spade, tighten the burlap in an acceptable manner, crimp wire basket around the root ball, lace top of ball with sisal twine and crimp basket to tighten twine. The employer expects tree spade crews to harvest between 18 and 40 trees per hour depending on size and variety.

Work will also include heavy mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include power shears, chain saws, high lift and fork lift, and tractors. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction. In addition, workers may be required to perform variable tasks such as the followin : irrigation, ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, weeding and other tasks related to a nursery operation.

Workers must be able to comprehend and follow instructions and communicate effectively to supervisors. Unusual, complex or non-routine activities will be supervised. Field workers will be expected to perform their general duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.

Workers must obey all safety rules and basic instructions and be able to recognize, understand and comply with safety, pesticide warning/re-entry and other essential postings.

Work is to be done for long periods of time. Workers are expected to perform duties including boxing, weighing and loading of product. Workers may assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop work activities. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required post-accident and upon reasonable suspicion of use.

Employer assures that workers will be provided, at no cost, transportation from living quarters to work site every day (for workers who must be provided housing under the applicable regulations). Workers may not report for work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Except for moderate alcohol consumption in company housing during non-working hours, the possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on Company property is prohibited and will be cause for termination.

Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. All workers will be subject to a trial period of up to five days during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker if the employer reasonably finds worker's performance during the trial period to be unacceptable.

Raises and/or bonuses may be offered to any seasonal worker employed pursuant to this job order, at the company's sole discretion, based on individual factors including work performance, skill, and tenure.

Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason. The employer may discipline the worker, including brief suspension of work activities/employment for a set period determined by the supervisor or termination of employment as described in the Work Rules.

All terms and conditions included in the job order will apply equally to all workers, both U.S. workers and H-2A workers, employed in the occupation described in this clearance order.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at design