Life As a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent Job Description Purchase farm products either for further processing or resale. Includes tree farm contractors, grain brokers and market operators, grain buyers, and tobacco buyers.

Life As a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent: What Do They Do?

• Review orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand.
• Calculate applicable government grain quotas.
• Purchase, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.
• Examine or test crops or products to estimate their value, determine their grade, or locate any evidence of disease or insect damage.
• Advise farm groups or growers on land preparation or livestock care techniques that will maximize the quantity and quality of production.
• Coordinate or direct activities of workers engaged in cutting, transporting, storing, or milling products and maintaining records.

Skills Needed to be a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Related Job Titles

• Elevator Attendant
• Origination Specialist
• Grain Elevator Worker
• Oyster Buyer
• Cotton Buyer

Is There Going to be Demand for Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 13,700 jobs in the United States for Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent. The BLS estimates 1,400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent are Utah, Washington, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Ohio, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What Tools & Technology do Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Web browser software
• Microsoft Access
• SAP
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Dynamics GP
• IBM Lotus Notes
• Inventory management systems
• Deltek Costpoint
• Enterprise resource planning ERP system

How to Become a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

What kind of Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent?

Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent may also be interested in:

• First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
• Real Estate Brokers

Those who work as a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Customs Brokers

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: {} via CC0 Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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