Say Hay Farms produces certified organic pastured eggs and mixed vegetables on 50 acres in Esparto, CA. In our sixth year of production, we are now seeking a person with mechanical expertise and irrigation knowledge to perform most of our tractor work and irrigation duties.
Job Title: Tractor-Irrigation Specialist
Works directly with Owner.
DUTIES
1) Performs all tractor work, including activities and implements associated with: primary and secondary tillage, mechanical planting, cultivation, plastic mulching, harvest platform and harvest conveyor.
2) Performs regular maintenance and inspects equipment to ensure proper functioning.
3) Installs, operates, and monitors all irrigation activities.
4) Records irrigation information using soil-monitoring probes, meters, and spreadsheets.
5) Researches and implements procedural or equipment changes for greater efficiency and productivity.
6) Works safely and monitors safety of fellow employees around equipment.
7) Assists in vegetable and chicken operations as available.
8) Operate a forklift in and around our packing shed.
9) Depending upon experience, may assist owner with equipment repairs and fabrication.
QUALIFICATIONS
1) Minimum 3 full years of experience on a for-profit diversified vegetable operation.
2) Minimum 1 year prior tractor experience and demonstrated mechanical aptitude.
3) Demonstrated knowledge of basic irrigation principles.
4) Good communication skills.
5) Ability to work early, long, and hard. Weeks averaging 50 hours, but will vary with season’s demands and weather conditions.
COMPENSATION
Starting wage: $12/hour DOE.
Accrued Paid Time-Off.
Regular Schedule: Five 10-hour days with two days off in a row.
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 25 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 Tractor-Irrigator’s role will be to work closely with the Owner and Harvest Manager to perform field operations. There is the possibility of earning the position of Field Manager for someone with the right set of skills and ambition.
We run a John Deere 5075e and 5100MH mudder for our tillage and harvest operations. A converted electric Allis-Chalmers G performs much of the precision cultivation. A John Deere 4410 loader-backhoe is used for front loader as well as construction work. Our packing shed attempts to maximize efficiency with use of a Caterpillar GP20 forklift and pallet jacks.
We use both sprinkler pipe, surface drip, and sub-surface drip for our pastures and row crops.
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, and, hopefully grow into a longer-term role in our farm’s success.
TIME FRAME
Interviewing now.
Starting Time Frame: Flexible. This is a wet spring. As early as March 1, as late as May 1.
TO APPLY
Please email a brief cover letter, resume, and references to sayhayfarms@gmail.com with the subject title “Tractor-Irrigation Specialist.”
