Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products

Career Description: Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.

Industry: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Other Job Titles for Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products:

• 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.
• 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.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
• Discard inferior or defective products and/or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
• Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
• Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
• Record grade and/or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
• Separate fiber tufts between fingers to assess strength, uniformity, and cohesive quality of fibers.
• Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects and to protect against disease, and with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
• Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
• Thin and space trees, using power thinning saws.
• Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking and measuring efforts.
• Gather, package, and deliver forest products to buyers.
• Erect signs and fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.
• Prune or shear tree tops and limbs in order to control growth, increase density, and improve shape.
• Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, and plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.
• Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, and setting stakes.
• Explain and enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of building and sanitation.
• Operate a skidder, bulldozer or other prime mover to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
• Examine and grade trees according to standard charts, and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
• Sort and separate tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts and verbal instructions.
• Maintain campsites and recreational areas, replenishing firewood and other supplies, and cleaning kitchens and restrooms.
• Sow and harvest cover crops such as alfalfa.
• Transport fish to processing plants or to buyers.
• Interpret weather and vessel conditions to determine appropriate responses.
• Wash decks, conveyors, knives, and other equipment, using brushes, detergents, and water.
• Connect accessories such as floats, weights, flags, lights, or markers to nets, lines, or traps.
• Load and unload vessel equipment and supplies, by hand or using hoisting equipment.
• Harvest marine life for human or animal consumption, using diving or dredging equipment, traps, barges, rods, reels, and/or tackle.
• Hire qualified crew members, and assign their duties.
• Plan fishing operations, establishing the fish to be sought, the fishing location, the method of capture, and the duration of the trip.
• Stand lookout for schools of fish, and for steering and engine-room watches.

Emerging Tasks

• Bathe and groom animals.
• Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.
• Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• attach or mark identification onto products or containers
• grade, classify, or sort products according to specifications
• identify crop characteristics
• maintain safe work environment
• mark items for acceptance or rejection, according to conformance to specifications
• measure, weigh, or count products or materials
• perform safety inspections in agricultural, forestry, or fishing setting
• recognize plant diseases
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• sort manufacturing materials or products
• understand second language
• use hazardous materials information
• use microscope
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use quality assurance techniques
• use chain saws
• use fire suppression equipment
• use fire suppression techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use plant disease control techniques
• use portable hand spray equipment
• use knowledge of seamanship or boat handling
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
• resolve logging operation problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• understand second language
• use chain saws
• use oral or written communication techniques
• plan or organize work
• prepare or maintain employee records
• prepare reports
• recognize disease or parasites in animals
• recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
• recruit employees
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• schedule employee work hours
• study production records
• transport passengers or cargo
• treat medical condition of patient
• understand second language
• use animal disease control techniques
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule employee work hours
• transport passengers or cargo
• understand second language
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques

Overall Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a cashier even if he/she has never worked before.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Examples
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include taxi drivers, amusement and recreation attendants, counter and rental clerks, cashiers, and waiters/waitresses.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$8.64
• Average annual wage (2007) - $17,980.00

• Employment (2006): 42,091

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