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Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

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What is a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent?

Career Description Purchase farm products either for further processing or resale. Includes tree farm contractors, grain brokers and market operators, grain buyers, and tobacco buyers.

A Day in the Life of a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Review orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand.

Qualities of 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.

Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

  • Egg Buyer
  • Cotton Broker
  • Fish Agent
  • Crop Supervisor
  • Import Coordinator

What Kind of Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent Job Opportunities Are There?

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. 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
  • Deltek Costpoint
  • Inventory management systems
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP system

Becoming a Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent

Are there Farm Product Buyers and Purchasing Agents education requirements?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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

Are you already one of the many Farm Product Buyer or Purchasing Agent in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: {} via CC0 Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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