Join Our Team

Benefits of Becoming an Agricultural Biologist: 

  • Healthy mix of working inside and outside daily
  • Each day brings an opportunity to challenge yourself 
  • You are able to self-manage your work flow
  • Explore beautiful Merced County
  • Identify and work with insects
  • Become a part of the forefront of the agriculture industry
  • Build relationships with growers, PCA's and other agricultural entities
  • Educate our growers about safely using pesticides
  • Help promote and protect the agricultural industry
Structural Training Staff Pictures
  1. Agricultural Biologist I
  2. Agricultural Biologist II
  3. Agricultural Biologist III

Level I is the entry level in the Agricultural Biologist series. The incumbents work with an Agricultural Biologist II/III until they gain experience and competence and have obtained State Licenses of Eligibility as an Agricultural Biologist in their specialties. The specialties include: Pesticide Regulation, Investigation and Environmental Monitoring, Integrated Pest Management, Commodity Regulation, and Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation.

Duties of an Agricultural Biologist

  • Assure grower's compliance with laws and regulations concerning pesticides.
  • Conduct field review and inspection of pesticide use based on crops to be sprayed and drift possibilities to surrounding areas.
  • Educate growers/farmers and others involved in use of pesticides.
  • Enforce quarantine laws relating to the prevention of the introduction or spread of pests, and certify acceptability or specify treatment of shipments as a condition of movement.
  • Examine fields, roadways, and cultivated areas to determine location and extent of infestation of rodents, weeds, birds, insects or predators, and for presence or extent of plant disease infestation, and assist in their eradication or control.
  • Examine fruits, nuts, vegetables, honey, eggs and other agricultural commodities in markets, packing houses, and storage areas for compliance with regulations relating to standards, grades, and spray residue.
  • Examine plants and trees in nurseries and those arriving or shipped by private or common carrier for evidence of disease, pests of noxious weed seeds, cleanliness and proper labeling.
  • Inspect agricultural commodities being shipped to see that they are free from injurious insects or plant diseases.
  • Interview and conduct fact finding investigations of potential pesticide/chemical incidents and issue notice of violations, if appropriate.
  • Issue producers certificate and work with products retailers as to correct labeling as to variety, weight and count.
  • Issue restricted materials permits to growers.
  • Mix restricted and non-restricted pesticides.
  • Prepare treated grains for rodent control and its application.
  • Present various training sessions to growers and operators and administer tests for Private Applicator Certificates.

How to Become an Agricultural Biologist

  1. Education & Other Requirements
  2. Recommended Experience

Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4 year college with specialization in one or more appropriate field of studies:

  • Agricultural
  • Biological
  • Chemical
  • Physical Sciences
  • Or any field of study with a minimum of 30 semester units, or equivalent, in one or any combination of the following:
    • Mathematics
    • Statistics
  • Possess a California Driver's license at time of appointment and maintain.