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.
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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:
Top Knowledge Areas
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.
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.
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
- 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
- Purchasing Managers (Primary-Short)
- Supply Chain Managers (Primary-Long)
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (Primary-Short)
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products (Primary-Short)
- Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products (Primary-Short)
- Customs Brokers (Supplemental)
- Logisticians (Primary-Long)
- Logistics Analysts (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future buyers and purchasing agents, farm products often complete programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
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).