Inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety.
Collect samples from animals, plants, or products, and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, and other testing.
Compare product recipes with government-approved formulas or recipes in order to determine acceptability.
Direct and monitor the quarantine and treatment or destruction of plants and plant products.
Examine, weigh, and measure commodities such as poultry, eggs, meat, and seafood in order to certify qualities, grades, and weights.
Inquire about pesticides or chemicals to which animals may have been exposed.
Inspect agricultural commodities and related operations, as well as fish and logging operations for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
Inspect and test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, and infestations, and to determine the quality of products or animals.
Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
Label and seal graded products, and issue official grading certificates.
Monitor the grading performed by company employees in order to verify conformance to standards.
Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering and meat processing plants.
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.
Advise farmers and growers of development programs or new equipment and techniques to aid in quality production.
Inspect livestock to determine effectiveness of medication and feeding programs.
Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.
Review and monitor foreign product inspection systems in countries of origin to ensure equivalence to the U.S. system.
Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat and poultry products.
Set standards for the production of meat and poultry products, and for food ingredients, additives, and compounds used to prepare and package products.
Take emergency actions such as closing production facilities if product safety is compromised.
Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment and product evaluation, plant construction and layout, and food safety systems.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
A minimum of two years of college in the field of agriculture is required for entry into this occupation. A four-year degree will offer more opportunities to the graduate. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Agriculture Standards, Competency Profiles, and Resource Links online. College courses may include emphasis on the area of expertise such as poultry production and management; pork production and management; lamb and wool production and management; and dairy cattle production and management. A United States Department of Agriculture license for the product being inspected may be required.
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Third Interest High-Point - Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Responsibility - Workers on this job make decisions on their own.
Security - Workers on this job have steady employment.
Autonomy - Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.
Independence - Workers on this job do their work alone.
Working Conditions-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Activity - Workers on this job are busy all the time.
Moral Values - Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Company Policies and Practices - Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.
Supervision, Human Relations - Workers on this job have supervisors who back up their workers with management.
Support-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Variety - Workers on this job have something different to do every day.
Compensation - Workers on this job are paid well in comparison with other workers.
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