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Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products: 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. May negotiate contracts.

The Daily Work of Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products Perform?

The day-to-day responsibilities of buyers and purchasing agents, farm products include:

  • Purchase, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.
  • Arrange for processing or resale of purchased products.
  • Negotiate contracts with farmers for the production or purchase of farm products.
  • Arrange for transportation or storage of purchased products.
  • Maintain records of business transactions and product inventories, reporting data to companies or government agencies as necessary.
  • Review orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand.

Skills and Knowledge

Top buyers and purchasing agents, farm products draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.

Top Skills

The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Speaking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Negotiation  3.4 / 5
0
5
Persuasion  3.4 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.4 / 5
0
5

Top Knowledge Areas

Mathematics  4.0 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  3.9 / 5
0
5
Transportation  3.9 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.9 / 5
0
5
Economics and Accounting  3.9 / 5
0
5
Sales and Marketing  3.7 / 5
0
5

Types of Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products Jobs

Common job titles for this role include:

  • Agriculture Industry Coordinator
  • Agriculture Industry Specialist
  • Buyer
  • Buying Agent
  • Cattle Broker
  • Cattle Buyer
  • Cattle Dealer
  • Cattle Shipper

Job Outlook

There are roughly 492,666 buyers and purchasing agents, farm products working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +6.9% over the projection horizon.

Forecasted number of jobs for Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

Salary for Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

Statistic Value
Annual median $109,813
Hourly median $52.79
10th percentile $69,502
25th percentile $89,657
75th percentile $129,969
90th percentile $150,124

Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.

Salary ranges for Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

Tools and Technology

  • Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Web Services AWS software (hot technology)
  • Project management software: Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
  • Web platform development software: Google Angular (hot technology)
  • Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
  • Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
  • Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
  • Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
  • Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
  • Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
  • Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
  • Data base user interface and query software: Oracle Database (hot technology)
  • Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)

What the Workplace Is Like

The work environment for buyers and purchasing agents, farm products reflects the following characteristics:

  • Telephone Conversations
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • E-Mail
  • Contact With Others
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals

Getting Started in This Career

Typical buyers and purchasing agents, farm products positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.

Similar Occupations

Similar Occupations

Where to Study

Future buyers and purchasing agents, farm products often complete programs in:

1 programs across 1 majors

References

Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
  • BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
  • O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.

SOC code: 13-1021.00 (Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products).

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