noun
farm work; field labor
Refers to outdoor agricultural labor, especially in fields. A common, everyday term for farming tasks.
祖父は毎日朝早くから野良仕事に出かける。
My grandfather goes out to do farm work early every morning.
夏の野良仕事は暑くて大変だ。
Farm work in summer is hot and tough.
農作業 is a more formal or technical term for agricultural work, while 野良仕事 has a slightly more rustic, hands-on feel.
Compound of 野良 (のら, 'field') and 仕事 (しごと, 'work'). The exact historical derivation is straightforward; the word has been used for farm labor since at least the Edo period.