GENERAL DESCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Under the direction of the Agriculture Manager or Fresh Operations Manager, supervises operating departments including land preparation, planting, irrigation, spray, harvesting, packing and shipping and agricultural engineering.  

 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS/DUTIES OF THE POSITION:

Supervises all land preparation activities including clearing (mowing and drip tape extraction), subsoiling, disking and spading of fields. Ensures that block layouts are accurate and that specifications concerning soil conservation, drainage systems and field roads are adhered to. 

Supervises the pre-plant application of soil fumigant, laying of mulch and granular fertilizer. 

Supervises the installation of all ground and surface irrigation pipes.  Supervises drip irrigation applications as well as fertilizer, chlorine and pesticide injections.  Oversees overhead sprinkler irrigation activities. 

Supervises boom spray application of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, fertilizers and crop enhancers.  Also oversees and coordinates all weed control activities (spot spraying and hand-weeding). 

Supervises all field activities related to planting, including planting material harvest (loading), dipping, unloading and planting. 

Supervises all activities related to fruit handling, including fresh fruit harvesting, packing and transportation.  Supervises the processing and shipping operations. 

Generates and administers long and short-term operating schedules and estimates. 

Assists with the development and administration of the operating budget. Participates in agricultural cost control programs to ensure budget goals are achieved. 

Provides input for the development of research programs.  Ensures agricultural practices follow accepted procedures in the Agricultural Practices Manual. 

Ensures that the administration of the collective bargaining agreement is in compliance with company policies and procedures. 

Ensures the maintenance of safe and healthful working conditions for employees in accordance with company policies and programs and federal/state regulations.  Develops and implements safety programs to eliminate accidents, including conducting regular safety meetings for the operations. 

Performs special research and development projects as assigned.  

 

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

 

Database maintenance: updates the data related to land preparation, irrigation, planting and spraying. 

Accomplishes the leaf and soil analysis schedule. 

Implements field surveys following Integrated Pest Management 

 

INTERNAL RELATIONS 

WITH WHOM: 

With internal supervisors and managers 

Divisions, departments, and other corporate employees 

Agriculture Manager, Fresh Operations Manager, Engineering Manager, Agriculture Supervisors 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS 

WITH WHOM: 

 

Suppliers  

Third party contractors 

External auditors 

State government officials