Cropthorne Farm

Production Lead Job Description

Full-Time Permanent

 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS:

  • Reports to the Assistant Farm Manager.
  • Communicates with the Farm Manager, Assistant Manager and Farm Supervisor on a daily basis regarding field and greenhouse work needs.
  • Provides feedback to Farm Manager and Assistant Manager on farm team and if applicable market and farmstand help performance.
  • Is an active member of the Farm Team which meets regularly to ensure effective communication.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

  • Work with Farm Manager and Assistant Manager to ensure field and greenhouse production and quality goals are met.
  • Work closely with Assistant Manager, Farm Supervisor and other farm leads and to complete daily farm tasks on schedule.
  • Liaise with Farm Manager, Assistant Manager and Farm Supervisor for field and greenhouse work requirements and to facilitate the smooth running of the greenhouses and field growing as a whole.
  • Is an active part of the farm team, assisting in a wide array of tasks including harvest, planting, irrigating, weeding, washing and other post harvest and field related tasks with quality and efficiency in mind.
  • Support overall operations as a member of the farm leadership team through active participation in meetings, progress reports, collaboration and good communication

 

Greenhouse

  • Assist in the transplanting and care of greenhouse specific crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, basil, ginger etc.
  • Assist in maintaining records of seeding and planting dates, varieties, soil inputs and documenting any observations in crop binder as well as weekly tasks.
  • Help instigate, manage, and carry out a pruning/trellising schedule for the tomatoes and cucumber and pepper crops.
  • Assist in setting up and managing irrigation and fertigation of both drip and sprinkler systems in greenhouses.
  • Assist in scouting/monitoring for pest and disease problems plus weeds in greenhouses in a timely, pro-active manner, and helping to carry out treatment plans.
  • Bed preparation for seeding/transplanting in greenhouses using various hand tools
  • Inspecting and maintaining growing area to ascertain temperature and humidity conditions, and regulate systems of heaters, fans, tunnel ventilation.
  • Assist in developing schedules for successive seedings/plantings of greenhouse crops and ensure that they are followed on a weekly and monthly basis.
  • Assists in overseeing management of soil fertility in high tunnels though composting and other inputs.
  • Provide input regarding crop availabilities for fresh sheet.
  • Participate in research into crop varieties and management practices for improved greenhouse production.

Field

  • Is an active part of the farm team, assisting with harvest, planting, weeding, washing and other post harvest and field related tasks.
  • Assist with IPM program; spraying, scouting for pests and disease both in field and in hoophouses.
  • Contribute to pest management efforts through row cover management and release of beneficial insects
  • Support production systems for specific specialty crops (e.g., strawberries, tomatoes, ginger)
  • Assist with tractor work as needed.
  • Assist with irrigation scheduling and implementation.
  • Providing support regarding crop availabilities for fresh sheet, on an as needed basis.

 

Propagation

  • Acting as a support to the Propagation Lead in tasks that include:
    • Potups, thinning, and grafting.
    • Monitor and replace sticky cards as needed.
    • Pest scouting:  Coordinate the seeding of beneficial trays and ordering bios
    • Weekly checks for known pests.

 

Training, Recordkeeping & Supervision

  • Provide feedback on field team performance by providing training and feedback to ensure that they have the appropriate skills for the assigned tasks particularly in the greenhouse and field.
  • Supervise staff on basic greenhouse tasks such as transplanting, plant care etc.
  • Help ensure that all members of the field team are exhibiting all expected job behaviours, including quality, speed, accuracy, and that they are following all required company policies and procedures when working under lead’s supervision.
  • Help ensure field team members personal safety by promoting individual awareness of hazards and teaching safety skills on the job, as well as identifying new hazards.
  • Help ensure food safety by promoting individual awareness of food safety hazards and by teaching food safe skills on the job.
  • Help ensure procedures relating to Organic Certification are carried out.
  • Provide leadership support to other leads, supervisors and managers in other spaces whether post-harvest, markets etc. as needed
  • Assist in the training of new team members.
  • Adhering to farm protocols and policies, which include food safety, farm safety and organic certification
  • Facilitate a respectful, communicative and team-oriented work environment.
  • Accurately fill out detailed records in a timely manner which include spraying, planting, harvesting and food safety.
  • Assist in documenting and working with the farm’s Food Safety Plan.
  • Other tasks and activities consistent with our Food Safety Plan.
  • Maintain a safe, clean and well-organized environment for staff
  • Write, review and edit SWPs and SOPs as needed.

Other

  • Attend farmers markets as lead or in a support role as needed.
  • Lead or support at farmstand as needed.
  • Maintain stock and organisation of chemical sheds, ensure proper signage, ensuring PPE is in good repair and inventory.
  • Contribute to the farm business planning by providing input and expertise on cropping systems, varieties, inputs, equipment and capital improvements.
  • Perform other farm related duties as required, as sometimes we need everyone to help accomplish certain tasks, especially those that are time sensitive!