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Agricultural Inspectors

Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.

What you’d do

  • Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
  • Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
  • Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.
  • Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
  • Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.
  • Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.
  • Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.
  • Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.

Skills that matter

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Speaking

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Agricultural Commodities Grader (ACG)
  • Apiary Inspector
  • Brand Inspector
  • Grain Inspector
  • Agricultural Products Agent
  • CSI (Consumer Safety Inspector)

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