Job Description:

• 1) Plants and cultivates trees, such as apple, orange, and walnut, and harvests fruit and nut crops, applying knowledge of horticulture and market conditions: Determines varieties and quantities of trees to be grown, acreage to be tilled, and employees to be hired.

• 2) Selects and purchases tree stock and farm machines, implements, and supplies.

• 3) Decides when and how to plant, bud, graft, cultivate, irrigate, and prune trees and harvest crop, based on knowledge of tree-crop culture.

• 4) Attaches farm implements, such as plow, disc, and harrow, to tractor and drives tractor in fields to till soil.

• 5) Plants root stock, applies fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides, and irrigates fields.

• 6) Prunes growing trees to develop desired size and shape.

• 7) Assigns duties to farmhands and explains orchard work techniques and safety regulations to inexperienced workers.

• 8) Maintains employee and financial records.

• 9) Arranges with buyers for sale of crops.

• 10) Lubricates, adjusts, and makes minor repairs on farm machinery, implements, and equipment, using oilcan, grease gun, and handtools.

• 11) May bud and graft stock.

• 12) May plant ground crops to shade ground, conserve moisture, and improve soil.

• 13) May be designated according to crop grown as Apple Grower; Cherry Grower; Filbert Grower; Lemon Grower; Nut Orchardist; Orange Grower.

• 14) May be designated: Peach Grower; Pecan Grower; Tung-Nut Grower; Walnut Grower.