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What They Do
About This Career
Purchases 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.
This career is part of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Agribusiness Systems pathway.
A person in this career:
- Purchases, for further processing or for resale, farm products, such as milk, grains, or Christmas trees.
- Arranges for processing or resale of purchased products.
- Negotiates contracts with farmers for the production or purchase of farm products.
- Arranges for transportation or storage of purchased products.
- Maintains records of business transactions and product inventories, reporting data to companies or government agencies as necessary.
- Reviews orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand.
- Examines or tests crops or products to estimate their value, determine their grade, or locate any evidence of disease or insect damage.
- Coordinates or directs activities of workers engaged in cutting, transporting, storing, or milling products and maintaining records.
- Sells supplies, such as seed, feed, fertilizers, or insecticides, arranging for loans or financing as necessary.
- Advises farm groups or growers on land preparation or livestock care techniques that will maximize the quantity and quality of production.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
- Overnight travel
- Overtime work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Buyer — Plans and selects a range of products to sell.
- Grain Buyer
- Grain Merchandiser
- Grain Origination Specialist
- Purchasing Agent — Purchases machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment.
- Tobacco Buyer
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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