Agricultural Warehouse Inspectors (GS-1850) | Agricultural Marketing Service

Agricultural Warehouse Inspectors conduct examinations of storage facilities licensed under the United States Warehouse Act (USWA) and/or facilities operating under a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Storage Agreement. Many states require warehouse licensing for agricultural products, and licensing or CCC approval is often a prerequisite for participation in various government and industry programs. These duties may involve:

Complete examinations/audit reports to determine compliance with the U.S. Warehouse Act (USWA) and/or applicable storage agreements.
Reviews and documents inventory quantity and quality integrity of commodity warehouses and processors. Determines warehouse storage capacities based upon established procedures.
Has working knowledge of agricultural commodity warehousing processes. Reviews and documents findings in a clear, concise report.
Inspecting the physical condition of storage facilities, equipment, and machinery used in connection with handling products stored to check adequacy and condition of facilities.

This Position is Represented in the Following AMS Programs:

Fair Trade Practices

Work Environment

Agricultural Warehouse Inspectors work in a variety of settings and working conditions. This may include within an office setting as well as storage facilities and warehouses. The work involves moderate risks and requires special safety precautions necessary for the inspection of storage facilities and warehouses. They may be exposed to moderate discomfort, high noise levels, dust, or adverse weather.

Minimum Requirements

For GS-09 Level and Above	For GS-09 Level and Above
Applicants must have either: Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level that demonstrates the ability to: Manager or supervisory official of a storage facility for agricultural commodities. The experience must have included responsibility for the receipt, care, and delivery of agricultural commodities and the issuance of warehouse receipts. Federal or State warehouse examiner responsible for examining storage facilities for agricultural commodities. Auditor, accountant, or bookkeeper employed in a storage facility for agricultural commodities. Agricultural employee involved in commodity loan inspections, farm storage facility inspections, and the inspection and verification of warehouse records. Work for a commodity storage warehouse or contractor of a commodity storage warehouse, and weighed, inspected grain, or other commodities for the condition and grade requirements in accordance with official standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Experience using a variety of information technology for the purpose of organizing data and creating reports. Inspecting the physical condition of storage facilities, equipment, and machinery used in connection with warehousing and storage of goods. Experience communicating in writing for the purpose of accurate reporting of information to Management, Senior Officials, other Agencies, State officials or private entities. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). OR Education: One year of graduate level education in the following degree fields: agriculture, agriculture marketing, agriculture business, agriculture economics, accounting, engineering, commerce, transportation, or closely related field. Applicants can also qualify if they have completed the requirements for a 4-year course of study from an accredited institution and: Have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; Are a member in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies); or Meet the following GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Applicants must also: Have a valid driver's license. Complete a medical examination.	Applicants must have either: Experience: One year of specialized experience in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07 level that demonstrates the ability to: Conduct examinations or inspections on agricultural commodity warehouses. Inspect and report on the physical condition of storage facilities, equipment, and machinery used in connection with commodity storage. Take physical inventory of products in storage and comparing inventory figures with data obtained from records. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). OR Education: A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in the following degree fields: agriculture, agriculture marketing, agriculture business, agriculture economics, accounting, engineering, commerce, transportation, or closely related field. Applicants can also qualify if they have an LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination of Education & Experience: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience at the GS-07 and GS-09 levels to meet total qualification requirements.

For GS-09 Level and Above

Applicants must have either:

Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level that demonstrates the ability to:

Manager or supervisory official of a storage facility for agricultural commodities. The experience must have included responsibility for the receipt, care, and delivery of agricultural commodities and the issuance of warehouse receipts.
Federal or State warehouse examiner responsible for examining storage facilities for agricultural commodities.
Auditor, accountant, or bookkeeper employed in a storage facility for agricultural commodities.
Agricultural employee involved in commodity loan inspections, farm storage facility inspections, and the inspection and verification of warehouse records.
Work for a commodity storage warehouse or contractor of a commodity storage warehouse, and weighed, inspected grain, or other commodities for the condition and grade requirements in accordance with official standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Experience using a variety of information technology for the purpose of organizing data and creating reports.
Inspecting the physical condition of storage facilities, equipment, and machinery used in connection with warehousing and storage of goods.
Experience communicating in writing for the purpose of accurate reporting of information to Management, Senior Officials, other Agencies, State officials or private entities.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Education: One year of graduate level education in the following degree fields: agriculture, agriculture marketing, agriculture business, agriculture economics, accounting, engineering, commerce, transportation, or closely related field.

Applicants can also qualify if they have completed the requirements for a 4-year course of study from an accredited institution and:

Have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class;
Are a member in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies); or
Meet the following GPA requirements:

3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR
3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

Applicants must also:

Have a valid driver's license.
Complete a medical examination.

Applicants must have either:

Experience: One year of specialized experience in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07 level that demonstrates the ability to:

Conduct examinations or inspections on agricultural commodity warehouses.
Inspect and report on the physical condition of storage facilities, equipment, and machinery used in connection with commodity storage.
Take physical inventory of products in storage and comparing inventory figures with data obtained from records.

Education: A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in the following degree fields: agriculture, agriculture marketing, agriculture business, agriculture economics, accounting, engineering, commerce, transportation, or closely related field.

Applicants can also qualify if they have an LL.B. or J.D., if related.

Combination of Education & Experience: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience at the GS-07 and GS-09 levels to meet total qualification requirements.

Common Career Paths

Agricultural Marketing Specialist