Careers in Production Agriculture

Farm Laborer

Job Description

A farm laborer manually plants, cultivates and harvests vegetables, fruits, nuts and field crops, using hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruining hooks, shears and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizer; transplanting, weeding, thinning or pruning crops; applying pesticides; cleaning, packing and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings or particpate in irrigation activities.

Skills

• No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed
• Training is usually done on the job

Preparation

May require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.