AGRICULTURIST 2

State-of-Nevad; Sparks (NV); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nevada Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Health and Compliance in Sparks seeks an Agriculturist 2 to support FSMA Produce Safety Rule, Producer Certificate, Nursery, and export programs. The incumbent will conduct FSMA inspections, provide technical assistance to growers, conduct nursery inspections, and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.

This role also helps with program databases, training, and certification processes to promote safe, compliant agricultural

Qualifications

• Two or more years of applicable experience as described in the job duties.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations.
• Ability to prepare reports and provide education.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Inspections & enforcement

Report writing

Outreach to growers

Regulatory knowledge

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. Key responsibilities include supporting the implementation of FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, conducting produce safety inspections and on-farm assessments, and performing routine nursery stock inspections. The position also assists with program databases, training, and certification processes to promote safe, compliant agricultural production across Nevada.

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.