MASTER AND TERM TITLES

General and Term Titles

SUPERVISOR (any ind.) boss: chief; head; leader; manager, overlooker; overseer; principal; section chief; section leader.

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in one or more occupations: Studies production schedules and estimates worker-hour requirements for completion of job assignment. Interprets company policies to workers and enforces safety regulations. Interprets specifications, blueprints, and job orders to workers, and assigns duties. Establishes or adjusts work procedures to meet production schedules, using knowledge of capacities of machines and equipment. Recommends measures to improve production methods, equipment performance, and quality of product, and suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of shop, department, or work crew. Analyzes and resolves work problems, or assists worker in solving work problems. Initiates or suggests plans to motivate workers to achieve work goals. Recommends or initiates personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, discharges, and disciplinary measures. May train new workers. Maintains time and production records. May estimate, requisition, and inspect materials. May confer with other SUPERVISORS (any ind.) to coordinate activities of individual departments. May confer with workers' representatives to resolve grievances. May set up machines and equipment. When supervising workers engaged chiefly in one occupation or craft, is required to be adept in the activities of the workers supervised. When supervising workers engaged in several occupations, is required to possess general knowledge of the activities involved. Classifications are made according to process involved, craft of workers supervised, product manufactured, or according to industry in which work occurs. Classifications are made according to workers supervised.

FARMER (agric.)

A term used to designate a person who manages a tract of land devoted to production or exploitation of plants and animals. Classifications are made according to duties performed as FARMER, FIELD CROPS (agric.); FARMER GENERAL (agric.); FARMER, VINE-FRUIT CROPS (agric.); LIVESTOCK RANCHER (agric.); POULTRY FARMER (agric.).

FARMER, CONTRACT (agric.)

A term applied to a farmer working on a contract basis for another farmer. Classifications are made according to kind of work contracted for as FARM-MACHINE OPERATOR (agric.); FARM WORKER, GRAIN (agric.)I.

FARMER, DRY LAND (agric.)

A term applied to one who practices diversified or specialized farming and depends on limited rainfall for moisture as opposed to one who irrigates. Classifications are made according to type of crop grown as FARMER, CASH GRAIN (agric.); FARMER, VEGETABLE (agric.); FLOWER GROWER (agric.); HAY FARMER (agric.).

FARMER, TENANT (agric.)

A term used to designate a worker who plants, cultivates, and harvests crops or raises animals on rented land for which payment is made in specified amount of money or fixed quantity of crops or animals. Machinery, tools, livestock, labor, seed, and fertilizer are provided by tenant. Classifications are made according to kind of farm rented or crop raised as FARMER, CASH GRAIN (agric.); FARMER, FIELD CROP (agric.); FARMER, VEGETABLE (agric.).

FARM WORKER (agric.)

A term applied to worker who performs variety of duties on farm including planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops, operating farm equipment, and attending to livestock. Classifications are made according to duties performed as FARM-MACHINE OPERATOR (agric.); FARM WORKER, POULTRY (agric.); FARM WORKER, VEGETABLE (agric.) I; FARM WORKER, VEGETABLE (agric.) II; HARVEST WORKER, FRUIT (agric.).

FARM WORKER, SEASONAL (agric.) wage worker.

A term applied to workers who are engaged in farm work on seasonal basis. Workers may specialize in planting, weeding, irrigating, harvesting, or packing crops, but do not follow crop maturities over wide areas. Classifications are made according to duties performed, as FARM-MACHINES OPERATOR (agric); HARVEST WORKER, FRUIT (agric.); HARVEST WORKER, VEGETABLE (agric.); IRRIGATOR, GRAVITY FLOW (agric.); PACKER, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (agric; whole. tr.); SORTER, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (agric; can & preserve.; whole tr.); WEEDER-THINNER (agric.).

FRUIT WORKER (agric.)

A term applied to a worker who cultivates, picks, grades, or packs fruits. Classifications are made according to duties performed as FARM WORKER, FRUIT (agric.) I; HARVEST WORKER, FRUIT (agric.); PACKER, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (agric.; whole. tr.); SORTER, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (agric.; can & preserve.; whole. tr.).

CONTAINER DRIVER (agric.)

A term applied to workers who drive truck or farm equipment to transport empty containers to workers engaged in picking fruit and vegetables and to transport filled containers to shed or warehouse. Classifications are made according to equipment used as FARM-MACHINE OPERATOR (agric.); TRUCK DRIVER, HEAVY (any ind.).

MIGRANT WORKER (agric.)

A term applied to a worker who moves about the country, working as member of farm crew to grow and harvest vegetables, grains, and fruits: Usually contracts for work with FARM LABOR CONTRACTOR (agric.) and receives pay, subsistence, and transportation from same. Plants, weeds, thins, picks, washes, ties, grades, or packs fruits and vegetables by hand or with hand tools. May drive farm equipment to plow, plant, or cultivate crops. Classifications are made according to duties performed as HARVEST WORKER, FRUIT (agric.); HARVEST WORKER, VEGETABLE (agric.); IRRIGATOR, GRAVITY FLOW (agric.); WEEDER-THINNER (agric.); FARM-MACHINE OPERATOR (agric.).

PACE SETTER (agric.)

A term applied to a lead worker engaged in picking fruit or truck crops, who picks at specified rate that determines production of workers. Classifications are made according to workers involved or crop picked as FARM WORKER, VEGETABLE (agric.) II; HARVEST WORKER, FRUIT (agric.).
NOTE: Pace setters are sometimes called rabbits when paid a secret bonus by the farm employer to push the crew speed. The use of rabbits is a poor management practice: an attempt to get piece rate work effort for hourly pay. This is not the same as a crew leader, supervisor, or boss whose job--known to everyone--is to set a work production speed--G. Billikopf

SHARECROPPER (agric.)

A term applied to a farmer who plants, cultivates, and harvests crops on land owned by another for specified share of receipts of sale of crop. Usually equipment, seed, and fertilizer are provided by land owner who may also specify crops to be grown and when planting and harvesting will take place. Classifications are made according to crop grown as FARMER, FIELD CROP (agric.); FARMER VEGETABLE (agric.).

SHED WORKER (agric.)

A term applied to farm workers when working in a building or lean-to which provides protection from weather or which is used for drying and storing crops. Classifications are made according to kind of crop, such as HARVEST WORKER, FIELD CROP (agric.); HARVEST WORKER, VEGETABLE (agric.); or according to duties performed as PACKER, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (agric.; whole tr.); SORTER, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (agric.; can & preserve.; whole tr.); SUPERVISOR, SHED WORKERS (agric.).

Adapted from US Department of Labor DOT for Dictionary of Agricultural Occupations



Dictionary of Agricultural Occupations

Send questions to: gebillikopf@ucdavis.edu

Gregorio Billikopf Encina
(209) 525-6800


15 November 2004