Job Information
Owen & Rust Farms, LLC Farmworkers and Laborers / in Elkton, Kentucky
Supervisor 45-1011Position Summary:- Will work alongside general agricultural workers in the production of burley, dark fired, and air cured tobacco, as well as row crop operations.-In addition to performing all manual labor duties, the Supervisor is responsible for directing daily work activities, maintaining crew efficiency, enforcing productivity standards, monitoring crop and barn conditions, and assisting farm ownership in operational and agronomic decisions to produce the highest possible yield.-This position requires leadership, crop knowledge, physical endurance, and the ability to maintain productivity standards while working in the field and barns.Leadership & Supervisory Responsibilities:• Work alongside crew members in all production activities• Direct, assign, and monitor daily work tasks• Ensure workers remain on task and maintain steady work pace• Enforce productivity standards:• Burley Tobacco: 100 sticks per hour (excluding dropping sticks)• Dark Fired Tobacco: 50-60 sticks per hour• Monitor work quality in cutting, spiking, housing, stripping, topping, and sucker control• Provide hands-on training during the two-day (14-hour) training period• Correct improper cutting, housing, or stripping techniques• Promote safety and proper use of knives, spears, and equipmentCrop Monitoring & Decision Support:• Routinely scout fields for:• Black shank• Insect pressure• Nutrient deficiencies• Stand loss or uneven growth• Report findings promptly to farm ownership• Assist in determining timing of topping, sucker control, harvest, and chemical applications• Ensure crop handling prevents bruising or breakage• Monitor maturity to optimize harvest timingDark Fired Barn Oversight:• Inspect barns during curing process• Monitor temperature, airflow, smoke distribution, and tobacco color• Supervise wood cutting and staging• Oversee placement and firing of wooden slabs covered with sawdust• Ensure firing cycles are maintained until appropriate color is achieved• Remove ashes after firing• Identify curing issues early and report immediatelyProduction Duties (Performed Alongside Crew)Alternative work: General farm maintenance and other duties as required in the farming operation maintenance. Includes, but not limited to, preparing barns, draining fields, preparing land for planting, dropping sticks in field, maintenance of tool & equipment & other work as directly related to the crop activities for which the worker is hired. Also includes fixing and the clearing and painting of fence/barns. Such work will be offered when climate or crop conditions preclude working in the primary activities listed.General Conditions: If work is available beyond normal workdays, employer may offer, but not require, worker an opportunity to work additional hours. Workers will report to work at designated time and place as directed by assigned employer each day. workers may be requested to ten (10) hours per day depending on conditions in fields and the maturity of the crops. Also, workers may be requested to work on federal holidays and their Sabbath but will not be required. Workers may volunteer to work additional hours when work is available. Down time: Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer’s control. These periods can occur any time throughout the season. Worker may be required to work in fields when crops are wet with dew / rain and should have suitable clothing for conditions which include light rain and temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to more than 100 degrees. Workers should be able to stand, bend, stoop and work for prolonged periods of time and be physically fit to perform duties as assigned. Care must always be exercised with any use of equipment.