STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
HUMAN RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION: AGRICULTURAL
INSPECTOR
Class Code: 0145-18
Date Established: 09-23-92
Occupational
Code: 3-1-1
Date of Last Revision: 12-28-01
BASIC PURPOSE: To investigate
and review the production, processing, packaging and marketing of agricultural
products for compliance with state and federal laws and rules.
CHARACTERISTIC
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
·
Inspects farms,
roadside stands, wholesale distributing houses and retail stores to ensure that
agricultural products meet grade, quality and condition, and labeling
standards.
·
Samples livestock
feed, pet foods, seed, fertilizer, lime and horticultural growing media from
manufacturing plants, wholesalers, retailers and farms for analysis and content
and enforces state regulations regarding packaging, labeling and registrations.
·
Responds to
complaints from and interacts with private citizens, municipal government and
environmental agencies regarding complaints relative to the use of manure,
fertilizer, or agricultural compost concerning its possible negative impact on
the environment or humans.
·
Drafts federal and
state certificates of inspection and refuses approval for sale of produce, eggs
and poultry not meeting grade.
·
Visits maple syrup
producers and distributors to inspect and sample syrup for compliance with
state grade, packaging and labeling standards and to assure consumer
confidence.
·
Inspects cider mills
for conformity to state manufacturing, quality and labeling standards to ensure
consumer safety.
·
Visits and inspects
producers of farm products enrolled in the Organic Certification program and
the Seal of Quality program.
·
Investigates possible
infractions of the Agricultural Lands Preservation Program by reviewing
landowner records and maps for program compliance, performs on site
inspections.
·
Conducts training and
educational seminars for producer and commodity organizations.
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DISTINGUISHING
FACTORS:
Skill: Requires skill
in recommending routine changes in standardized operating procedures OR in
retrieving, compiling, and reporting data according to established procedures
OR in operating complex machines.
Knowledge: Requires
logical or scientific understanding to analyze problems of a specialized or
professional nature in a particular field.
Impact: Requires
responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing agency objectives by
facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other state
agencies. Errors at this level
result in inaccurate reports or invalid test results and require significant
investment of time and resources to detect.
Supervision: Requires no
supervision of employees or functions.
Working
Conditions: Requires performing regular job
functions in an environment which includes exposure to continuous physical
elements or a number of disagreeable working conditions with frequent exposure
to minor injuries or health hazards.
Physical
Demands: Requires medium work, including
continuous strenuous activities such as frequent reaching, bending, or lifting
as well as performing work activities which require fine manual dexterity or
coordination in operating machines or equipment.
Communication: Requires
explaining facts, interpreting situations, or advising individuals of
alternative or appropriate courses of action. This level also requires interviewing or eliciting
information from state employees or members of the general public.
Complexity: Requires a
combination of job functions to establish facts, to draw daily operational
conclusions, or to solve practical problems. This level also requires providing a variety of alternative
solutions where only limited standardization exists.
Independent
Action: Requires objective assessment in
analyzing and developing new work methods and procedures subject to periodic
review and in making decisions according to established technical, professional
or administrative standards.
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Possession of
a Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with major study in
animal science, biology, botany, horticulture, soil science, zoology, or a
related agricultural or environmental field.
Experience: Two year's
work experience in an agricultural related position such as producing,
processing, manufacturing, marketing, inspecting, or quality control of
agricultural commodities.
License/Certification: None required.
RECOMMENDED
WORK TRAITS: Knowledge of the problems and practices
of produce growers and dealers.
Ability to obtain federal and state licenses to inspect and grade
produce. Ability to maintain good
working relationships with the agricultural community and relevant regulatory
agencies. Must be willing to
maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as
determined by the agency appointing authority.
DISCLAIMER
STATEMENT: This class specification is descriptive
of general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this
class title.
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