harvesting rice while still green
Literal agricultural term: cutting rice before it is fully ripe, often out of necessity.
This year we harvested the rice while it was still green before the typhoon came.
early recruitment of students; poaching graduates before the official start date
Figurative business term: companies recruiting university students before the agreed-upon start of the job-hunting season. Often used critically.
See also: 青田買い (あおたがい)
Early recruitment of students by major companies has become a problem.
Compound of 青田 (aota, 'green rice field') and 刈り (kari, 'cutting, harvesting'). The figurative sense extends the idea of harvesting something before it is fully mature.