What Do Farm Products Purchasing Agents Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Farm Products Purchasing Agents purchase farm products either for further processing or resale. Includes tree farm contractors, grain brokers and market operators, grain buyers, and tobacco buyers. They also purchase, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Examine or test crops or products to estimate their value, determine their grade, or locate any evidence of disease or insect damage.

We asked Farm Products Purchasing Agents how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

52% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 26% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Farm Products Purchasing Agents maintain records of business transactions and product inventories, reporting data to companies or government agencies as necessary. They review orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand.

A typical day for a Buyer and Purchasing Agent of Farm Product will also include:

• Sell supplies, such as seed, feed, fertilizers, or insecticides, arranging for loans or financing as necessary.
• Purchase, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.
• Arrange for transportation or storage of purchased products.
• Arrange for processing or resale of purchased products.
• Coordinate or direct activities of workers engaged in cutting, transporting, storing, or milling products and maintaining records.

We asked some Farm Products Purchasing Agents a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	64% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	99% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	50% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	73% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Farm Products Purchasing Agents also estimate land production possibilities, surveying property and studying factors such as crop rotation history, soil fertility, or irrigation facilities. They may also calculate applicable government grain quotas.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Farm Products Purchasing Agents Coordinate or direct activities of workers engaged in cutting, transporting, storing, or milling products and maintaining records. They might also Examine or test crops or products to estimate their value, determine their grade, or locate any evidence of disease or insect damage.

In addition, they Advise farm groups or growers on land preparation or livestock care techniques that will maximize the quantity and quality of production.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Arrange for transportation or storage of purchased products.

To some Farm Products Purchasing Agents, it is also their responsibility to Negotiate contracts with farmers for the production or purchase of farm products.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Buyer and Purchasing Agent of Farm Product, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/buyers-and-purchasing-agents.htm

http://www.american-purchasing.com/

https://www.instituteforsupplymanagement.org/

http://www.nigp.org/