Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop

Description

Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; cleaning, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.

Tasks

Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
Apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to crops.
Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
Clear and maintain irrigation ditches.
Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
Dig and plant seeds, or transplant seedlings by hand.
Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.
Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.

Knowledge

Food Production: Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Work Context

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls: How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Exposed to Contaminants: How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety: How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting: How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
In an Open Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)?
Work With Work Group or Team: How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Very Hot or Cold Temperatures: How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Work Style

Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Social Orientation: Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

First-Line Supervisors of Aquacultural Workers

First-Line Supervisors of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Workers

First-Line Supervisors of Animal Husbandry and Animal Care Workers

Agricultural Inspectors

Agricultural Equipment Operators

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Fishers and Related Fishing Workers

Lay Titles

Agriculture Worker

Apple Picker

Apple Thinner

Apple Turner

Asparagus Cutter

Bale Sewer

Bean Picker

Beet Topper

Beet Worker

Berry Picker

Berry Planter

Binder Operator

Bog Worker

Brush Cutter

Bulb Farmworker

Cane Burner

Cane Cutter

Cane Flume Watcher

Cane Flume Watchman

Cane Loader

Cane Packer

Cane Pusher

Cane Stripper

Carrot Buncher

Carrot Harvester

Carrot Tier

Celery Cutter

Celery Packer

Celery Stripper

Celery Tier

Celery Wrapper

Citrus Fruit Packer

Citrus Picker

Corn Detasseler

Corn Husker

Corn Picker

Corn Sheller

Corn Shredder

Corn Shucker

Cotton Picker

Cotton Puller

Cotton Stomper

Crop Duster Helper

Crop Farm Helper

Crop or Grain Farmer

Crop or Grain Farmworker

Crop Picker

Crop Ranch Hand

Culler

Custom Grinder

Detasseler

Digger

Ditch Cleaner

Ditch Digger

Ditch Rider

Ditch Tender

Ditcher

Diversified Crops Farmworker

Dryland Farmer

Eradicator

Farm Hand

Farm Laborer

Farm Rancher

Farm Worker

Field Broomer

Field Cane Scaler Helper

Field Crop Farmworker

Field Crop Harvest Worker

Field Hand

Field Handyman

Field Hauler

Field Irrigation Worker

Field Worker

Fig Caprifier

Firebreak Cutter

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $8.98 hourly, $18,670 annual.

Employment (2008):: 253,670 employees