(b) The commissioner, except when it is otherwise provided in this chapter or the context otherwise requires, may also delegate to an officer or employee of the United States department of agriculture, engaged within this state in joint or cooperative state-federal programs, any of the powers invested in him by article five of this chapter for the control, suppression or eradication of communicable diseases in domestic animals or domestic fowls, any of the powers invested in him by article five-B of this chapter relative to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of animals slaughtered for food purposes and processing inspection of meat, meat by-products and meat food products, any of the powers invested in him by article five-D of this chapter relative to ante-mortem inspection of poultry slaughtered for human food, post-mortem inspection of poultry carcasses and inspection of poultry and poultry products, any of the powers invested in him by article fourteen of this chapter in the control or eradication of injurious insects or plant diseases, and any of the powers invested in him by subdivisions four and five of section sixteen of this chapter relative to the collection, analysis and publication of primary statistical data relating to agricultural products of this state. Such delegation shall be in writing and shall state the specific limits of the powers so delegated.

(c) Whenever by the education law or other statute the commissioner is made a member by virtue of his office of the board of visitors, managers or trustees or other similar body of a state institution, he may in writing authorize and empower a deputy commissioner, the secretary of the department or the director of a bureau to act in his place and stead at any meeting or meetings of any such board or body.