AGRICULTURIST 2

State of Nevada (NV); Sparks (NV); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Sparks office, seeks an Agriculturist 2 to support FSMA Produce Safety Rule programs, nursery and export programs. Responsibilities include conducting inspections, providing technical assistance, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

The role involves communicating findings, preparing reports, and contributing to program outreach and enforcement efforts.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of applicable inspection and enforcement experience.
• Graduation from high school or equivalent education.

Responsibilities

• Conduct FSMA inspections and nursery inspections.
• Provide technical assistance and outreach to growers for the produce safety program.
• Inspect retailers, wholesalers, and agricultural facilities.
• Prepare inspection reports and issue required certifications.
• Investigate complaints related to Produce Food Safety and Nursery licensing.
• Maintain data, prepare reports, monitor budgets and assist in contracts and procurement.
• Issue Phytosanitary Certificates and develop certification standards for new crops.
• Educate on regulations including noxious weeds, seed certification, pest control, and plant disease diagnostics.

Skills

Inspection

Enforcement

Outreach

Technical reporting

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), Division of Plant Health and Compliance is seeking to fill one vacant position of Agriculturist 2 in the Sparks office. This position supports the NDA's Food Safety Modenerzation Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule program, Producer Certificate, Nursery programs, as well as the export program. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting FSMA inspections, provides technical assistance and outreach to growers for the produce safety program, conducts nursery inspections, conducts general agriclutural inspections, and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations.

Agriculturists perform a variety of inspections and enforcement duties related to regulated agricultural programs.

Two or more years of applicable experience as described in the job duties and graduation from high school or equivalent education.

1. Perform technical inspection and enforcement duties related to agricultural programs in a limited capacity.
2. Review forms and reports, statistical data, and determine inspection quotas.
3. Prepare inspection reports.
4. Identify and report infestations of noxious weeds, mix herbicides, identify specimens submitted, record data, and recommend control procedures.
5. Perform shipping point and conditional inspections of agricultural commodities.
6. Inspect retail outlets, wholesalers, and agricultural facilities.
7. Conduct outreach related to various agricultural topics and regulations including but not limited to Produce food safety and Nursery licensing.
8. Perform a broad range of duties relating to the agricultural programs’ inspection and enforcement.
9. Prepare informational and regulatory bulletins.
10. Issue Phytosanitary Certificates and create certification standards for new crops.
11. Investigate complaints related to Produce Food Safety and Nursery licensing.
12. Provide education on various agricultural topics and regulations including but not limited to noxious weeds, seed certification, produce safety, pest control, plant disease diagnostics.
13. Maintain data, prepare reports, monitor budgets to assist in the administration of contracts, grants, and purchasing and budget preparation.
14. Perform related duties as assigned.

This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Knowledge of:

• Federal and Statepesticide enforcement programs; native plant taxonomy.
• Noxious weeds; nursery and pest controlinspection and investigationprocedures; sample collection and processing procedures; quarantined or serious pest insects, weeds and diseases; standards for fruits, vegetables, eggs and poultry; different pesticides and their effect on humans, pests, non-target animals, and environment; pesticide registration, labeling and use.
• Applicator certification and pest control operator licensing; identification and control of wood-destroying pests; fertilizer registration and restricted–use pesticides traps to monitor insects and their proper distribution.
• Insect and vertebrate pests, weed, and diseases of plants, their biology, hosts, effects and control.
• Nursery and pest control investigationprocedures, including sample collection and processing procedures; quarantined or serious pest insects, weeds and diseases.

Ability to:

• Prepare analytical, narrative, and statistical reports.
• Prepare and make presentations to the public.