Equipment Specialists coordinate development of new processes, design innovation, and fabrication techniques as they relate to the acceptability of the equipment for use in plants surveyed and approved for USDA grading services. These duties may involve: 

Agricultural Commodity Technicians perform a variety of equipment check-testing with an emphasis on sample preparation, sample collection, data entry, shipping and receiving, record management, and other technical functions associated with grading, inspection, and program-specific functions. These duties may include:  

Food Technologists apply science and technology to food product research, development, improvement, evaluation, production, processing, preservation, and packaging. The work requires knowledge of the biological, physical, and engineering sciences that make possible safe and wholesome food products, equipment capabilities and limitations, and relevant laws, regulations, and agency programs. These duties may involve:  

Docket Number: AMS-SC-23-0062
Effective Date: December 12, 2023

Summary

This rule temporarily changes the substandard and maturity dockage requirements for raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for raisins produced from grapes grown in California (Order). For the 2023–2024 crop year, the minimum requirements for substandard and maturity dockage in the marketing order's handling regulations will be relaxed to accommodate raisins adversely impacted by severe weather conditions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an interim rule to relax the substandard and maturity dockage requirements in the handling regulations of the California raisins federal marketing order.

Engineers work and consult with equipment manufacturers and local contractors to ensure that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems properly condition cotton samples for instrument evaluation. They monitor operation of the systems in all classing offices to insure continuous maintenance of conditioning. These duties may involve:

Chemists are responsible for assigned projects and/or programs in support of analytical services, analytical method development, and quality assurance. Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the analysis of mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and heavy metals/elements. These duties may involve:

The AMS logo is available in both a color and black and white version. When using the logo, keep adequate space around it, only place it on solid colors or very simple graphic/photo backgrounds (such as a clear sky).

See USDA’s logo guidelines for more guidance on spacing and appropriate use of all official USDA logos, lockups and seals.