AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AGE:NT 1

Definition

Under direction of a supervisor in the Department of Agriculture, inspects, certifies, and grades a variety of agricultural products; collects official samples of agricultural production materials; conducts surveys of prices, product dating, and required licenses of agricultural products; supervises and trains Agricultural Product Agents 2 and Agricultural Product Agent Trainees; inspects warehouse receipts; processes loss claims for short and damaged foods; judges foods unfit for human consumption; supervises annual warehouse physical inventories, evaluates commercial processor storage and sanitary conditions, and makes recommendations on vendor contract acceptability; inspects storage and use of federal foods distributed to state/county/municipal agencies throughout New Jersey to ensure compliance with US Department of Agriculture usage requirements; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Inspects and may supervise eggbreaking plants and processes to ensure compliance with USDA regulations. Conducts shipping point inspections on the basis of USDA standards.
• Inspects and prepares official phytosanitary certificates on horticultural products for export. Prepares technically accurate official state/federal certificates and other related official documents in accord with state/federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Collects samples of animal feeds, seeds, fertilizers, soil conditioners, and liming materials displayed for sale at retail and wholesale levels, and submits sample to the division laboratory for further analysis.
• Grades fresh agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables received at processing plants and receiving stations on the basis of contract and state/federal specifications.
• Inspects shell eggs, white potatoes, and poultry products at all levels in the marketing channel.
• Verifies prices and proper dating and/or condition of agricultural commodity packages and containers and proper labeling of commodities and materials.
• Prepares and presents training and refresher courses for inspection and grading personnel, and participates in on-the-job training for Agricultural Product Agent Trainees and Agricultural Product Agents 2 in conjunction with others.
• Acts as a witness for the state/federal levels at hearings and in court, gives testimony under oath, and provides depositions when requested.
• Cooperates with federal agencies, official state organizations and agencies, and other states on matters of mutual interest.
• Inspects and recommends for approval/disapproval the facilities proposed for controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of agricultural commodities.
• Makes regular inspections of CA storage facilities.
• Improves packing techniques, grading standardization requirements, and appropriate labeling of packages of agricultural enterprises by encouraging farmers, shippers, and processors to do so.
• Prepares clear, accurate, and detailed, statistical, financial, and other reports of the respective programs containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Prepares correspondence and special reports.
• Carries out delegated responsibilities pertaining to department and state policies and regulations including proper use, care, and maintenance of state equipment.
• Monitors receipt of foods, and investigates warehouse losses due to spoilage, damage, or theft.
• Recommends actions against commercial warehouses when found negligent.
• Visits processor plants to assist management in evaluation of processor plant facilities, storage areas, and sanitary conditions, and offers an opinion as to their condition in accord with USDA regulations.
• Supervises and directs Agricultural Products Agents 2 and Agricultural Products Agent Trainees in conducting annual physical inventories of commercial warehouses or as directed by management.
• Monitors warehouse inspections to ensure rotation of stock and to determine whether commodities are free from contamination.
• Evaluates and projects school and institutional food needs, and assesses food use factors as regards requests for additional or bonus food allocations.
• Responds to the Emergency Operations Center, State Police to assist and help in allocation of emergency foods to disaster areas.
• Supervises inspectors during staffing of warehouses in time of declared emergencies.
• Reviews and monitors participant agencies, food usage, inventory control systems, and the transfer of foods judged to be in excess.
• Reviews participant agency inventory and financial records pertaining to commercial processors.
• Recommends to Chief, Bureau of Food Distribution Programs the reduction of food issuances and/or withholding of food issuances for failure to adhere to program regulatory requirements.
• Reviews requests from recipient agencies for additional commodities and issues based on past history to avoid exceeding approved federal commodity dollar entitlement.
• Attends training conferences and programs as needed and/or directed by management.
• Publicly addresses small groups such as food service personnel or as otherwise assigned on behalf of the supervising or management personnel to inform and update recipient agency program requirements.
• Reviews, prepares, and submits required reports which may include the application of income tax or cost formulas to determine eligibility of institutional recipients.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in commodity storage or agricultural production, processing, marketing, or inspection which shall have included official grade determination or some form of official agricultural quality control work.

License

The Department of Agriculture will provide appointees the opportunity to qualify for and obtain a NJ Weigh Master's License issued by the Division of Weights and Measures, Department of Law and Public Safety. The Department will also provide appointees the opportunity to qualify for and obtain appropriate USDA, NJ Department of Agriculture, or US Department of Commerce Licenses for grading, inspection, or surveillance of various agricultural commodities.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

SPECIAL

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of marketing practices and perishability of products being graded to ensure equitable service to the industries.
• Knowledge of making accurate inspections, inventories, and checks of stored food commodities.
• Knowledge of inventory control systems related to food storage.
• Knowledge of industry practices for handling, storage, distribution, and preparation of perishable foods to ensure safety, freedom from contamination, and full utilization.
• Ability to apply knowledge of state and federal regulations, standards, and procedures governing inspection and grading of agricultural products including certification of eggs and poultry products.
• Ability to apply knowledge of state and federal laws regarding commodity storage and distribution and marketing of agricultural products to ensure compliance with export and import regulations.
• Ability to apply knowledge of all phases of USDA rules relating to commodity storage and distribution.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and apply specific state and federal standards and contract specifications to agricultural commodities.
• Ability to take representative samples, coordinate and/or make complex inspections, collect pertinent information, make evaluations and judgments, and prepare accurate, informative official certificates, contracts, claim forms, and reports.
• Ability to explain scoring defects and tolerances, container marking requirements, and laws pertaining to interstate, intrastate, and export shipments of agricultural commodities to the industry.
• Ability to deal courteously and effectively with others in complex situations concerning the certification of agricultural products.
• Ability to organize assigned work, analyze inspection and grading problems, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assign, instruct, and supervise personnel.
• Ability to conduct on-the-job training programs and to address groups.
• Ability to prepare factual reports and correspondence.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to act as a state/federal witness at hearings and in court.
• Ability to give testimony under oath.
• Ability to provide depositions.
• Ability to understand and convey USDA requirements for the receipt, storage, and use of federal funds.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: 18/I19 - (40 hrs.) CAH 3/1/97 18/I18 - (NL)

Note

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

The duties of this title involve heavy lifting. Appointees will be expected to perform duties where lifting of heavy objects such as crates of ice, pack poultry, and dry pack cases of eggs, fruits, and vegetables and other objects will be required.

Appointees will be expected to detect color variations and undesirable odors in commodities being inspected and/or graded.