Career overview

Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products

O*NET-SOC 13-1021.00

Median pay / yr$75,650

OutlookRapid Growth

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.

What it takes

The skills, knowledge, and credentials employers look for in Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products.

Skills employers look for

Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active ListeningGiving 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.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Knowledge areas

MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Economics and AccountingKnowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.