What You'll Do

  • Purchase, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.
  • Negotiate contracts with farmers for the production or purchase of farm products.
  • Arrange for processing or resale of purchased products.
  • Arrange for transportation or storage of purchased products.
  • Review orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand.
  • Maintain records of business transactions and product inventories, reporting data to companies or government agencies as necessary.
  • 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.
  • Calculate applicable government grain quotas.
  • Sell supplies, such as seed, feed, fertilizers, or insecticides, arranging for loans or financing as necessary.

Essential Skills

Speaking 3.88/5
Critical Thinking 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.38/5
Persuasion 3.38/5
Negotiation 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.25/5
Writing 3.12/5
Active Learning 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Stress Tolerance, Dependability, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Analytical Thinking

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.62/5
Written Comprehension 3.62/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.62/5
Speech Clarity 3.62/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.38/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.38/5
Near Vision 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

Amazon Web Services AWS software Atlassian JIRA Customer relationship management CRM software Deltek Costpoint Enterprise resource planning ERP system Google Angular IBM Lotus Notes Inventory management systems Microsoft Access Microsoft Dynamics GP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Word Oracle Database Product producer databases Salesforce software SAP software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.69/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.61/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.6/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.59/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.27/5)

Want to see how YOUR work style matches this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

Similar Careers to Explore

First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators

99.7% similar profile

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

99.5% similar profile

Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators

99.4% similar profile

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

99.3% similar profile

Biomass Power Plant Managers

99.1% similar profile

Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

99.0% similar profile

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

99.0% similar profile

Industrial Production Managers

98.9% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Agriculture Industry Coordinator Agriculture Industry Specialist Buyer Buying Agent Cattle Broker Cattle Buyer Cattle Dealer Cattle Shipper Cattle Trader Cattleman Chicken Buyer Christmas Tree Contractor Clean Rice Broker Cotton Agent Cotton Broker Cotton Buyer Cotton Converter Cotton Factor Cotton Purchasing Agent Cow Buyer Cream Buyer Egg Buyer Farm Buyer Farm Contractor Farm Product Purchaser Farm Products Purchasing Agent Farm Products Shipper Farm Specialist Field Contact Person Field Contact Technician Field Contractor Fish Agent Flour Broker Food Broker Fruit Buyer Fruit Shipper Fur Buyer Grain Broker Grain Buyer Grain Elevator Man Grain Elevator Operator Grain Elevator Worker Grain Merchandiser Grain Origination Specialist Grain Purchasing Agent Grain Shipper Hide Buyer Hog Buyer Hog Trader Horse Buyer Horse Trader Import Coordinator Importer Importer Exporter Internal Wholesaler Livestock Broker Livestock Buyer Livestock Commission Agent Livestock Dealer Livestock Purchasing Agent Livestock Speculator Livestock Trader Livestock, Grain, Cotton and Other Farm Products Purchasing Agent Origination Director Origination Specialist Oyster Buyer Oyster Shipper Poultry Buyer Procurement Specialist Produce Broker Produce Buyer Produce Shipper Purchasing Agent Purchasing Coordinator Purchasing Specialist Resident Buyer Seed Buyer Stock Buyer Stock Dealer Stock Shipper Stock Trader Tobacco Buyer Vehicle Purchasing Agent Wheat Buyer Wheat Shipper Wool Buyer