in County, ID
Job Description
Dates of Need: 3/15/2026-10/15/2026. This job includes farm labor, irrigation, agricultural equipment operation and harvest on a hop farm. This is a skill level II job and requires a minimum of three (3) months of agricultural equipment operator and general farm labor experience. Workers will be required to work independently with minimal supervision once given work tasks for the day. The lifting requirement for this position is 60 pounds.
Twining/Stringing Hops: Attaching string (twine) between trellis and the ground. Driving the stringing cart (tractor) while other workers tie twine. Workers may ride on farm implement cart, approximately 18 feet above the ground, hand tying twine to trellis. Use tool to place metal clip in the ground. Affixing string to ground. Workers will fill water tank with hop twine to make twine damp. Workers will fix any strings that come loose or need repair.
Training hops: As the hops grow, wrap any bine that has not grabbed on to the twine. Hop bines are delicate and care must be taken when performing this task. Weed hop fields. Planting hop roots or hop plants in pots in new hop yards. Assist in drip irrigation duties. Roll out and/or roll up drip hose to hop plants in rows. Repair and maintain drip hose and check for leaks and
breakage. Flush drip irrigation lines. Spread drip irrigation lines and tubes. Hop trellis work: Build and repair hop trellis. Dig and repair ground. Place new poles or remove broken or damaged poles. Remove old trellis. Ensure all poles are vertically straight. Stretch cable and wire and attach clamps. Pick up downed hop bines: When strong winds come along and blow mature hop plants off the bine, get the hops back up the trellis.
Hop harvest job descriptions are as follows:
Hop harvest is a physically demanding job. Hop bines can scratch and irritate skin. Workers will need to dress in long sleeve shirts and pants and wear gloves and eye protection.
Hop Harvester Assistant Mechanic: Must observe picking machine and make sure it is running properly. Must keep track of all tools used and make sure machine is off when performing maintenance on any part of the machine. Worker must make sure all parts are lubricated and running properly.
Hop Bine Hanger/Bottom Feeder: Job consists of unloading hop trucks at a stationary harvesting machine. Hanging bines is physically demanding and requires the employee to grab, lift, and place the ends of the hop bines on the hooks that transfer the bines from the truck bed to the harvesting apparatus.
Hop Truck Driver: Job consists of driving the hop truck into the field. The truck is loaded with hop bines and then returns to the harvest facility to drop off load.
Bine Pick-Up: Walk rows after they have been harvested to pick up fallen hop bines that did not make it into hop trailers. Pile bines in field and place in trucks or ATV.
Top Cutter: Worker drives the tractor cutting the top of the hop bines from the trellis in the field. May at times be required to hand cut hop bines from the field.
Bottom Cutter: Worker drives the tractor cutting the bottom of the hop bines in the field. May at times be required to hand cut hop bines from the field.
Sweeper: Will use long broom to sweep fallen hops to bottom conveyor. Must keep processing area clean at all times.
Stick Pickers- Workers will pick sticks and sort out of hops on conveyors.
Hop Kiln/Dryer Help- Will make sure the hop floors are laid correctly. Employee must work for long periods in extreme temperatures. Must communicate with the kiln operator and stick pickers. Must take moisture samples from each floor before taking the floors off. Operate conveyors to take the hops off the kiln floor once dried.
Baling Hops: Workers must make sure baling machine is operating a capacity and correctly at all times. Must move hop bales with assistance from other workers and hand cart. Workers will observe and prep the balers as needed. Will sew bales closed with a sewing machine and may hand stitch bales if needed. Balers will keep records of numbers of bales and weights and temperature of each. Workers will mark each bale with lot and variety.
Hyster Operator-Operator will communicate with the balers to move hop bales. Workers will be required to maintain, inspect and clean hyster after each shift. Hops are a very caustic plant. Those with allergies should use caution and wear the appropriate clothing for work in hop fields. All duties as assigned.
Workers may also:
1. Operate or maintain equipment used in agricultural production and field preparation such as tractors, irrigation equipment, 4-wheelers, non-CDL, farm exempt trucks, and other commonly used equipment in agriculture.
2. Operate tractors to mow, weed spray and pull trailers in the fields.
3. Load and mix chemicals in addition to operating tractors pulling air blast sprayers.
4. Install monitor, maintain and repair the irrigation system for a specified area of the fields.
5. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
6. May operate non-CDL, farm exempt trucks, maintain and repair tractors, farm machinery and hop picker in harvest facility.
7. Workers may also clear debris and garbage from fields and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment, and work areas.
8. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs.
9. Workers may also drive vehicles to transport farm workers, supplies, crops. and equipment.
Hop harvest is a physically demanding job. Hop bines can scratch and irritate skin. Workers will need to dress in long sleeve shirts and pants and wear gloves and eye protection.
Hop harvest, from approximately August 25 – October 7, is a 24/7 operation. The employer runs at least two shifts that may run 10-12 hours and workers may be asked to work on a either a day or night shift.
The anticipated hours listed represent the normal work schedule. Due to the nature of these crops, weather, and the requirement to send crops to customers when needed, it is the prevailing practice to work more or different hours than those listed. A worker may be offered more than the specified hours of work, maybe offered work on federal holidays or the worker’s Sabbath as nursery/farm labor may need to take place seven days a week; however, the worker will not be required to work for more than the number of hours specified in the job order, or on the worker’s Sabbath or Federal holidays. Saturday work will be required. Workday start times vary depending on the weather. depending on the time of year, hours of daylight, and production requirements. There may be periods when little or no work will be available due to weather, time of year, and the requirements of the cropping or growing season. Workers must be able to work varying shifts as required by the season and work performed. Workers are notified of any change in the start times. Work may be performed during rain, light snow, cold, freezing temperatures and/or in high humidity and in temperatures over a 100 degrees F. Worker may be required to work in fields when crops are wet with dew/rain and should have suitable
clothing for variable weather conditions. Workers’ job duties may require split shifts (e.g. 5:00 am to 10:00am and 5:00pm to 8:00pm). Work hours may vary were there are periods when extra hours are offered and periods of reduced hours are available due to weather, crop conditions, and time of year.
Workers must possess requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat the harvest process throughout the workday. Workers must work at a sustained, vigorous pace and make bona-fide efforts to work efficiently and consistently that are reasonable under the climatic and all other working conditions. Workers may never ride on agricultural equipment not designed for work related riding purposes or any other non-passenger intended equipment unless instructed and authorized by the employer or supervisor to do so. Workers with valid driver’s licenses and that are insurable may transport workers, equipment, supplies or crop. All work-related injuries must be immediately reported to the crew leader, foreman, or supervisor. If light duty work is assigned for a worker’s compensation injury, the worker will be expected to return to work and perform the light duty work upon advice from a physician and the workers compensation insurance company. Employer-paid drug test may be required if a worker has an accident at work.
Full Growing Season Commitment: The job offered requires that the worker be available for work every day that work is available for the full period of employment. The
worker agrees to be available for work and perform the assigned work for the assigned employer whenever work is available through the full period of employment.
