Beekeeper

Beekeeper at Warcola Honey Farms LLC in Currie, NC.

Multiple contract dates available. Alternative start date(s) include: 03/01/2027 (6 workers); 05/01/2027 (1 workers); 07/01/2027 (3 workers). The exact start date and/or number of workers may vary based on weather, crop conditions or other factors.

Crops/Commodities: beekeeping. Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays): This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a honeybee farm handling both manual and machine tasks associated with beekeeping. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Prepare bees and bee equipment for pollination. Worker must be familiar with working with bees in all stages, from the egg through fully developed workers, drones and queens; must work all aspects of commercial bee keeping, including accessing a colony to determine if it needs food or medicine, feeding and medicating bees, maintaining hives in a healthy state, increasing number of hives, raising and replacing queens, making divides, making, painting and cleaning boxes, supering hives. Harvest/extract honey. Bottle honey. Maintain a clean shop. Run queen breeding yard and produce queen bees. Manipulate and service hive structures and haul bees to and from different hive locations to ensure healthy and productive honeybee colonies. Must respond correctly to bees to harmonize with their natural cycle and keep them in the healthiest state possible for survival and profitability. General maintenance and servicing of equipment and facility. Maintenance of bee yards.

Work is to be done for long periods of time. Workers are expected to perform duties including boxing, weighing and loading of product. Workers may assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop operations. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may be asked to drive other workers in pickup trucks and mini vans (non-CMV).

The employer may discipline the worker, including brief suspension of work activities (“time out”) for a period determined by the supervisor, suspension from employment for a set period of days or termination of employment as described in the “Work Rules."

Workers may not report for work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on Company property is prohibited and will be cause for immdediate termination.

An applicant for this job must be available to work for the entire duration of the itinerary. An applicant referred to the employer after the labor certification has been granted, but before 50 percent of the work contract period for the entire itinerary has elapsed, must be available and willing to join the employer at whatever place the employer is located at the time and remain with the employer for the duration of the beekeeping itinerary. Job opportunity is Skill Level I.

Work begins January 15, 2027 and ends November 15, 2027.

Pay is $12.84 per hour.

Housing is provided.

Typical schedule: about 50 hours per week.