Beekeeping

Work description

Beekeeping. Perform manual and mechanical duties related to commercial beekeeping and honey production. Must be familiar with working with bees in all stages, from egg through mature workers, drones and queens. Must work all aspects of beekeeping. Inserts honeycombs into hive. Access colony to determine if food or medicine is needed. Feed and medicate bees for diseases, parasites, and pests. Sterilize hive and burn diseased hive or bee colony. Run queen breeding yard. Raise and replace queens. Make divides. Prepare bees and bee equipment for pollination. Make splits. Supering hives. Pull/remove frames of honey covered with bees and shake into cages. Manipulate and service hive structures. Haul bees to and from different hive locations ensuring healthy and productive honeybee colonies. Load, unload and move bees/boxes. Prepare hives for indoor/outdoor wintering. Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. Cut grass with lawnmowers and trimmers around barns, pond, grass waterways, fields, under fences and farm roadside edges. May fertilize and spray with backpack sprayers. May operate and perform minor maintenance on farm vehicles or equipment. May drive pickup truck, van, tractor, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on the farm. May drive pickup truck or van over the public roads to haul bees, equipment and farm supplies and other farmworkers from place to place around the farm properties and to reach farmer’s fields during the workday. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another worker’s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires two months verifiable prior experience as a beekeeper. Must have no fear of bees and be non-allergic to bee stings, pollen, honey or other products of the hive. Must commit to work the entire contract period.