In Fiscal Year 2004, CBP agriculture specialists inspected nearly 1 million conveyances; 81 million passengers/pedestrians and conducted nearly 5 million cargo inspections. As a result of those inspections, more than 1.5 million interceptions of prohibited plant materials, meat/poultry products, and animal by-products were recorded. More than 65,000 “actionable” pests were intercepted—pests determined to be direct threats to crops, livestock, and other agricultural resources in the United States.

On July 13, 2004, the first class of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists graduated. (See CBP Agriculture Specialist graduation: not an end, but a beginning, Customs and Border Protection Today, July/August 2004) The 29 graduates are stationed at 20 different ports of entry. As of January 2005, 109 students in 4 classes have graduated.

Where are they now?
We asked a few of the graduates of the first graduating class for their thoughts now that they have been in the field for eight months and this is what they had to say:

CBP Agriculture Specialist Bruce Holdeman
Holdeman was one of four graduates that received the pest identification achievement award with an overall score of 100 percent.

“As an agriculture specialist at the Anchorage International Airport, I have become familiar with the varied and diverse aspects of Agriculture Quarantine Inspection. I participate in aircraft cargo inspections, passenger clearance, maritime operations, express carrier compliance, and land border concerns. My duties also include manifest review and passenger analysis.

The work itself is interesting, rewarding and largely what I expected it would be when I applied to work for APHIS.”

CBP Agriculture Specialist Shawn Batchelder
More than 90 percent of the class graduated with a score of 90 or better. Batchelder received the Assistant Commissioner’s Office of Training and Development Award for Academic Excellence with an overall scholastic average of 98.50 out of 100. He is currently working at the port of Louisville, Ky. “I like this position, though it can be challenging. At the main United Parcel Service hub here, there are two agriculture specialists to cover more than 40,000 express consignment shipments daily, as well as more than 20 tons of heavy freight cargo and miscellaneous inland freight.

I am fortunate to have an experienced and knowledgeable co-worker. Without Agriculture Specialist Michael Semeniuk, this position would be overwhelming. He has been instrumental in my training.

For the most part the job is what I expected to be. I thought there would be more of an agriculture presence though, but the actual inspection of conveyances is what I imagined.

With the many threats of foreign plant and animal pests/diseases and the rapid globalization of our economy, I see an increasing future need for agriculture specialists. So far, it has been a challenging, yet rewarding profession.”

CBP Agriculture Specialist Lisa Hendrick
Hendrick received the Directors’ Award. This award goes to the student who best practices and represents the core values of U.S. Customs And Border Protection. “I am the only Agricultural specialist in the port of Sault Sainte Marie, MI. I was welcomed by my fellow CBP officers and together we have successfully implemented a public agriculture awareness program.”

There are 17 additional classes scheduled to work towards the goal of 500 new agriculture specialists by February 2006. These graduates and others like them are the future of the Agriculture Inspection Program and will help to keep America safe from harmful pests, plants and diseases.