Weights and Measures division describes device inspection and scale‑certification clinics for farmers
Summary
The Division of Weights and Measures told the committee it licenses and verifies measuring devices used in commerce, audits fuel pumps and deli scales, supports vehicle and truck scales and runs outreach clinics where farmers can have small scales certified for free.
Josh Marshall, assistant commissioner at the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, gave a short overview of the Division of Weights and Measures. He said the division ensures equity in the marketplace by testing and certifying commercial devices that measure weight, volume and distance — for example deli and produce scales, fuel pumps and vehicle scales.
Marshall said the division currently licenses roughly 2,810 businesses that own about 20,000 commercial devices. The agency uses three inspectors and relies on about 217 private service technicians who can inspect and certify devices; DES staff aim to audit each device within a five‑year cycle while leveraging private technicians for routine inspections.
The division runs public outreach and “scale clinic” events — often with Cooperative Extension — where farmers may bring small scales (under 30 pounds) for free certification; the program also handles complaint investigations and enforcement actions where devices are found out of tolerance.
Members asked whether farm scales used at farmers markets are included (yes) and Marshall confirmed the division’s staff and clinics are intended to make compliance accessible for small producers. He noted the division is small and that much of its workload depends on a network of private service technicians and annual licensing revenue.
