8431 – General farm workers

General farm workers plant, cultivate and harvest crops, raise livestock and poultry and maintain and repair farm equipment and buildings. This unit group includes operators of farm machinery. They are employed on crop, livestock, fruit, vegetable and specialty farms.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Apiary technician

Apiary worker

Baler – agriculture

Baling machine operator – farm

Barn worker

Bee farm worker

Beef cattle farm worker

Beekeeping technician

Binder operator – agriculture

Cattle ranch labourer

Cattle ranch worker

Chick sexer

Chicken catcher

Chore hand – agriculture

Combine operator

Cowboy/cowgirl

Cowhand

Cowpuncher

Cropsprayer machine operator

Cultivator operator

Custom harvest crewperson

Dairy farm labourer

Dairy farm worker

Dairy hand

Egg candler

Egg collector

Egg gatherer

Egg grader

Egg grading machine tender

Egg grading station labourer

Egg packer – farm

Egg picker – poultry

Egg processing machine tender

Farm equipment operator

Farm hand

Farm labourer

Farm machinery operator

Farm worker

Farrowing technician

Feedlot assistant

Feedlot worker

Feedyard assistant

Feedyard worker

Field and vegetable crop labourer

Field crop and vegetable-growing worker

Fruit examiner – agriculture

Fruit farm labourer

Fruit farm worker

Fruit farming labourer

Fruit tree pruner

Fruit tree thinner

Fur farm worker

Fur farming worker

Fur ranch labourer

General farm worker

Grafter – orchard

Grain farm labourer

Grain farm worker

Groom – farm

Harvester machine operator

Hatchery worker

Hay baler operator – agriculture

Herd hand

Herder – stockyards

Hog farm worker

Honey farm worker

Hop-picking machine operator

Horse breaker

Incubator tender – agriculture

Irrigation worker – agriculture

Irrigator – agriculture

Lamb feedlot worker

Livestock driver

Livestock labourer

Livestock weigher

Livestock yard attendant

Livestock yardman/woman

Maple syrup maker

Maple tapping worker

Market garden worker

Milk production labourer

Milking machine tender

Mushroom farm worker

Oilseed crop worker

Orchard worker

Organic farm worker

Pasture rider

Penrider

Pheasant farm worker

Poultry farm labourer

Poultry farm worker

Poultry yard cleaner

Racehorse exerciser

Ranch hand

Ranch worker

Sheep feedlot worker

Sheep shearer

Soya bean crop worker

Stable assistant

Stable hand

Stable worker

Stableman/woman

Stock attendant

Stockyard attendant

Sugar bush worker

Sugar-beet farm worker

Swine technician

Threshing machine operator

Tobacco curer

Tobacco farm worker

Tobacco harvesting machine operator

Tobacco primer

Tractor operator – farm

Vegetable farm worker

Vegetable thinner

Vineyard pruner

Vineyard worker

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Plant, fertilize, cultivate, spray, irrigate and harvest crops

Feed and tend livestock and poultry

Milk cows

Perform or assist in performing breeding activities of farm animals

Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment

Follow food safety and security and animal bio-security procedures

Detect disease and health problems in crops, livestock and poultry

Examine produce for quality and prepare for market

Set and monitor water lines, air flow and temperature in barns, pens and chicken coops

Maintain or assist in the maintenance of facilities and farm infrastructure including cleaning stables, barns, barnyards and pens.

General farm workers can become specialized in a particular type of crop or livestock production through experience.

Employment requirements

There are no specific education or training requirements. However, a college certificate or specialized courses related to farming, such as farm equipment mechanics, agricultural welding, tree pruning and pesticide application, are available.

Basic farm knowledge, usually obtained from working on a family farm, may be required for employment.

A course or certificate in first aid may be required.

Additional information

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (8252)

Harvesting labourers (8611)

Managers in agriculture (0821)