Say Hay Farms produces certified organic pastured eggs and mixed vegetables on 50 acres in Esparto, at the mouth of the beautiful Capay Valley in Northern California. In our sixth year of production, we are now seeking a professional farmer to manage our vegetable operation.
Job Title: Farm Manager
Works directly with Owner.
DUTIES
1) Directs and supervises all farm employee activities, such as planting, irrigation, cultivation, tractor work, harvest, post harvest, shipping and storage. Responsible for scheduling.
2) Manages all aspects of crop production and field operations, including irrigation scheduling, timely cultivation, harvest forecasting, pest control, post harvest handling, and quality control.
3) Creates crop plan and field allocations in coordination with the Owner.
4) Records information about production, irrigation, labor activity, and food safety.
5) Researches and implements procedural or equipment changes for greater efficiency, productivity, and quality.
6) Inspects equipment to ensure proper functioning. Monitors safety of farm employees in the field and packing shed.
7) Monitors inventory and orders supplies.
QUALIFICATIONS
1) Minimum 3 years experience on a diversified vegetable operation.
2) Prior supervisory responsibility and demonstrated leadership abilities.
3) Demonstrated knowledge of high quality year-round vegetable production.
4) Proficient at data collection and spreadsheet analysis.
5) Desire and ambition to be the key player at the center of a small professional and creative farming operation.
6) Ability to work early, long, and hard. Weeks averaging 60 hours. This is a small farm so the Farm Manager performs most of the same duties s/he also supervises, including harvest.
COMPENSATION
Starting annual salary $45,000.
Bonus incentive based on farm profitability.
Two weeks paid vacation.
Starting Time Frame: Flexible. Full-time before March 2016, but planning meetings in early November will be necessary.
BACKGROUND
Say Hay Farms started in 2010 with just two acres and 100 hens. Having farmed 20 acres for the past few years, we are completing the transition to our new packing facility and infrastructure in Esparto, CA. We farm two properties totaling about 45 acres of vegetable ground, 5 acres of almonds in need of rehabilitation, and a half-acre of oranges. With the time needed to properly rotate and fertilize our grounds with chickens and cover crops, we usually don’t have more than 15-20 acres in vegetable production at a time.
Our goal is to meet much of our fertilization needs through pastured hens and cover crops, supplemented with compost and imported manure fertilizer when necessary. Our current laying flocks total 1600 laying hens, with plans for additional flocks. The Farm Manager’s focus will be on vegetable production, working with the Owner to allocate farm employees’ time to operate the daily routine of the egg operation.
Having grown for a small 60-member CSA, restaurants, farmers’ markets, independent grocers, co-ops, and wholesale distributors, we are currently on a trajectory towards focusing on the latter.
Our farm business strategy is to have the equipment and systems necessary to operate efficiently with a small team, the data to make informed planning decisions, and the skill and attention to detail needed to execute those plans successfully.
We are a young evolving farm and looking for the right person to help support our growth.
TIME FRAME
Interviewing now.
Start Date flexible depending upon candidate’s current position. Full-time no later than March 2016, but planning meetings in early November will be necessary.
TO APPLY
Please email a brief cover letter, resume, and references to sayhayfarms@gmail.com with the subject title “Farm Manager.”
