Job Information
Central Turf Farms Farmworker, Sod in Albert Lea, Minnesota
Job Duties
Start Date: 04/20/2026
End Date: 12/11/2026
Hours: 45 hours/week, Mon. 8 hours/day, Tues.-Thurs. 9 hours/day, Fri. 8 hours/day, Sat. 2 hours/day, 5:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Workers may be requested to work 12+ hours per day depending upon the conditions in the fields and maturity of the crops but will not be required to do so. Also, the workers may be requested to work on federal holidays and on their Sabbath but will not be required to do so. Starting and ending times may vary according to weather and crop conditions. During certain times of the season workers are required to work at night.
Must Apply By: 08/16/2026
Job Duties:
Sod: Perform various activities associated with growing grass and sod at a commercial turf grass nursery. Workers duties include but not limited to: stack sod, build/repair pallets, till, plow, rotovate, seed, fertilize, clean shop/home/fields, operate harvesters/tractors/pickups. These activities will be performed exclusively in an outdoor environment. Aid in soil preparation. Will be sodding large areas, sow grass seed, plant plugs of sod grass, cuts, rolls, and stacks sod in accordance with supervisor’s instructions. Weed, hoe and propagate. Water, fertilize, spray, monitor, trim, weed, cut, roll, stack, load, transport, and discard sod. Operate mowing equipment or drive a tractor pulling a wagon through the field or between fields. Bag certified grass seed. Perform any other activities associated with growing grass and sod in a nursery. Workers will operate trucks, forklifts, and tractors. Tractors will drag, tow, lift sod specific equipment through the fields. Workers will work with sod harvesting equipment. Workers will work with sod planting equipment. Load and unload empty pallets by hand.
Straw: Workers must load hay bales weighting up to 60 lbs. from farm to tractor-trailers via a conveyor. Stacks hay on conveyor and restack in trailer according to instructions. Hay harvested is dropped at end of conveyor. Using hay hooks, worker places bales on conveyor while other workers in the barn stack hay in hay/mow according to direction. Hay and straw harvested averages about 2500 bales per day.
Corn, Soybeans & Wheat: Workers will perform a variety of manual tasks appropriate for grain crops being planted cultivated and harvested. Workers will help in preparing the land for planting. This may include attaching farm implements such as a plow, disc, and drill to tractor. May drive a tractor in field to till soil in preparation of planting. Worker may apply various types of fertilizer to the soil and plants. These bags can weigh 75 lbs. Workers may cultivate and thin crops using a hoe. Workers will remove undesirable and excess growth, such as tassel, suckers, and weeds by hand. Carries supplies such as bags and bailing wires to the fields. Clears irrigation ditches, using shovel. Workers may husk and shell corn. Loads and unloads trucks, unloads grain onto conveyors to storage bins or elevators. Cleans and lubricates farm machines.
Clean fields of rocks, roots, limbs, stumps, and trees, roll/mow turf, rake/pick up grass clippings. Miscellaneous cleaning and debris removal from fields and farm.
Irrigation: Workers will be required to use both center pivot and traveling gun irrigation systems, diesel, and electric irrigation pumps. Bagging of sand with shovels will be required and cleaning of debris from dams and suction lines.
General Maintenance: Workers will be responsible for performing general maintenance around the farm. This will include fence mending, mowing, and weeding eating. Workers will repair and paint buildings to ensure they are in good repair.
Farm Equipment Operation: Workers may be required to operate tractors, bobcats, mowers, weed eaters and other farm equipment during daily operations, as an incidental activity. Workers will perform minor equipment repairs and maintenance. Before any worker is required to operate any farm equipment, workers will be instructed in the safety and operation of the tractor before driving the tractor. Tractors should be driven in a manner to protect operator, other workers, products, trees, crops, and equipment. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination. Properly licensed workers will driver employers vehicles on public roads.
Trucks: Workers will be required to use drive field trucks in and around the farm to accomplish tasks in a supportive role to tractors and equipment. This sometimes required them to transport on non-private streets and highways.
Worker will be exposed to extreme temperatures and varying weather conditions.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY: This employer will strive to provide a safe and healthful work environment, free of substance abuse, for the protection of our associates, employees and visitors. The use, possession or being under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol during working time is prohibited. Employees may also be requested to take random drug tests at no cost to the worker. Workers are subject to random drug testing effective their first date of work. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive will result in immediate termination.
Minimum Education Required
No High School Diploma or GED required.
Minimum Experience Required
All applicants must have at least 2 months experience operating 50+HP sod harvester and other manual transmission equipment.
Applicants must have a valid driver's license.
Applicants must be able to furnish affirmative job references from recent employers.
Worker must be able to lift 60 pounds.
Worker must be able to work in the hot, humid weather for extended periods of time.
Worker must be able to perform work that requires extensive pushing or pulling, sitting or walking, frequent stooping or bending over, and repetitive movements.
Shift
First (Day)
Number of Openings
3
Public Transportation Accessible
No
Veterans Encouraged to Apply
Yes
Physical Required
No
Drug Test Required
No
Compensation
$14.60 / Hourly
Additional Compensation
Employer reserves the right to pay higher than the stated wage rate to any worker foreign or domestic. This is not promised or guaranteed. The decision to pay above the stated rates will be made by the employer, at their sole discretion, and will be based on factors including the recipients’ performance and tenure including working team leaders, and drivers.
All domestic and/or nonresident seasonal farm workers that have completed previous seasons for the employer may be compensated above the stated hourly wage rate. This is not promised or guaranteed. Working team leaders may receive a higher wage rate. The decision to pay higher rates to workers will be based on past performance, current performance, duties, attendance, and returning workers, including the number of seasons completed with the employer. They may also offer bonuses to workers that complete the season. This is not promised or guaranteed.
As required for all workers in Minnesota, hours worked in excess of 48 hours in a work week will be paid at the rate of 1.5 times the regular rate of pay.
Postal Code
56007
Place of Work
On-site
Requisition ID
H-2A#26-339
Job Type
Full Time
Job Benefits
EMPLOYER ASSURANCES: Work guaranteed for 3/4 of contract period, starting with date of arrival at work site. Employer provides free housing for workers whose residence is beyond normal commuting distance. Employer pays inbound transportation and subsistence to work site upon 50% completion of work contract for workers whose residence is beyond normal commuting distance. Daily subsistence will be provided at a rate of at least $16.28 per day during travel to a maximum of $68.00 per day with receipts. Required work-related tools and supplies provided free of charge by employer.
Effective Jan 1, 2024, per MN State Statute, an employee will earn one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 48 hours of accrued Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) per year, provided the employee works a minimum of 80 hours in a calendar year.
Application Instructions
Send resume listing experience to:
MN DEED/FLC
Attn: H-2A#26-339
180 E. 5th St., Suite 1200, St. Paul, MN 55101
FAX: 651-297-7722
EMAIL: foreignlaborcertification.DEED@state.mn.us
CALL: Mary Garcia 651-259-7513
Must have proof of legal authority to work in U.S.