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Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

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What You Need to Know About Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

Example of Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent Job 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?

  • Purchase, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.
  • Estimate land production possibilities, surveying property and studying factors such as crop rotation history, soil fertility, or irrigation facilities.
  • 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.
  • Sell supplies, such as seed, feed, fertilizers, or insecticides, arranging for loans or financing as necessary.
  • Calculate applicable government grain quotas.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent?

When polled, Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Other Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent Job Titles

  • Contracts Specialist
  • Flour Broker
  • Farm Product Purchaser
  • Hog Buyer
  • Farm Contractor Buyer

Are There Job Opportunities for Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents?

In the United States, there were 13,700 jobs for Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent. There will be an estimated 1,400 positions for Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent per year.

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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.

Tools & Technologies Used by Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents

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

Becoming a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

Individuals working as a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent have obtained the following education levels:

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

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Those thinking about becoming a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent might also be interested in the following careers:

Career changers with experience as a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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