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Rhode Island Farm Jobs

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Directory of Farms, Orchards, etc

Working in Rhode Island

The smallest state in the U.S. in terms of land mass, Rhode Island boasts a strong economy highlighted by a growing agricultural industry. In total, farmland comprises around 9% or 109sqmi. of landmass available in the state. Roughly 1,200 farms reside throughout the territory nicknamed Little Rhody. On average, farms fall around 55 acres in size. Hay, sod, corn, nursery plants, apples, potatoes, and alfalfa represent the top crops grown in Little Rhody. Pheasant, broilers, and turkeys remain primary livestock commodities raised in the state.

Prominent low-land coastal areas, which lend to the other nickname of the region, The Ocean State, make up a majority of the state geography. Relatively flat lands and consistent moisture in the soils provide ideal conditions to grow substantial crops during the typical growing seasons lasting between 100 and 200 days, which vary between inland and coastal regions, respectively. Divided into seven distinct areas, the Rhode Island agricultural industry consists of Blackstone Valley, Block Island, East Bay, Newport County, Providence, South County, and Warwick/West Bay regions. The agricultural sections boast traditional and contemporary farming practices ranging from urban agriculture in the greater Providence areas and old-fashioned methods of raising livestock and growing crops in more rural areas.

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Operating as an extension of Rhode Island State Department of Environmental Management, the state Division of Agriculture oversees, supports, and bolsters the production and distribution of crops, livestock, and other commodities in the coastal New England state. The formal outfit partners with organizations like Rhode Island Agricultural Council to protect farmer rights, fund restoration projects, and lobby for environmental, conservation, and ecological initiatives. The legal entities also connect aspiring pickers, farmhands, and migrant workers with various agricultural job opportunities. Workers may use either organization to find meaningful part-time, full-time, or seasonal employment options. Most farms also put out personal ads or electronic calls for help on self-maintained websites.

Agricultural jobs in Rhode Island primarily consist of part-time, entry-level farmhand positions. Workers typically find piece-rate or hourly employment opportunities offering between $9.00 and $10.00 at start. The average fruit and vegetable picker makes close to the starting wage mentioned above, with salary options rising to $20,000 or so over time. Farms throughout the state hire seasonally, with jobs most prevalent in the mid-summer and fall when harvests begin. However, operations require supervisors and managers in addition to teams of administrators to track production and motivate employees. Around 3% of the state workforce maintains employment year round in the agricultural industry.