Marketing & Sales

Farm Products Purchasing Agent

salary graphic

AVG. SALARY

$72,440

education graphic

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

Suggested Steps to Prepare for a Farm Products Purchasing Agent Career (Grades 6-12)

Check out the recommended classes, activities and skills below for each grade level. These recommendations are very general -- discuss your specific course plan with your school counselors and teachers.

AI-assisted and curriculum-reviewed guidance. Talk with your counselor or teacher about your specific plan.
Grades 6-8

Helpful Classes

  • Math
  • Technology
  • Communication
  • Social Studies

Things to Try

  • Organize supplies for a class or team and track what comes in, goes out, and runs low, Practice counting, labeling, sorting, and checking records for accuracy, Compare two ways to store or move materials and explain which is more efficient, Interview a farm products purchasing agent about inventory, schedules, and keeping work organized

Focus Skills

  • Organization
  • Negotiation
  • Accuracy
  • Data analysis
  • Coordination

Helpful Classes

  • Business
  • Algebra I
  • Computer Applications
  • English
  • Logistics Basics

Recommended Learning Areas

  • inventory basics
  • organization
  • spreadsheets
  • communication
  • workflow

Things to Try

  • Use a spreadsheet to track stock, orders, or deliveries for a mock or school project, Practice creating labels, counts, pick lists, or receiving logs and checking for errors, Observe how warehouses, stores, or offices organize materials and movement, Shadow a farm products purchasing agent or logistics worker to see how records and timing are managed

Focus Skills

  • Organization
  • Negotiation
  • Accuracy
  • Data analysis
  • Coordination

Helpful Classes

  • Supply Chain and Logistics
  • Geometry
  • Spreadsheet Applications
  • English
  • Economics

Recommended Learning Areas

  • shipping and receiving
  • stock control
  • data entry
  • scheduling
  • warehouse safety

Things to Try

  • Plan how supplies should be stored, counted, and reordered for a school or club activity, Compare shipping, receiving, purchasing, or stock-control steps and identify delays, Practice documenting item counts, shortages, damaged goods, or order updates, Use data to explain trends in inventory levels, demand, or delivery time

Focus Skills

  • Organization
  • Negotiation
  • Accuracy
  • Data analysis
  • Coordination

Helpful Classes

  • Inventory Management
  • Statistics
  • Business
  • Logistics
  • Technical Writing

Recommended Learning Areas

  • inventory systems
  • demand planning
  • purchasing
  • metrics
  • documentation

Things to Try

  • Complete a logistics project tied to inventory systems, purchasing, or supply flow, Track metrics such as fill rate, stock levels, order timing, or receiving accuracy, Observe how workers coordinate suppliers, shipments, storage, and records, Interview professionals about quality checks, forecasting, and workflow planning

Focus Skills

  • Organization
  • Negotiation
  • Accuracy
  • Data analysis
  • Coordination

Helpful Classes

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Accounting
  • Data Analysis
  • Business Writing
  • Logistics

Recommended Learning Areas

  • supply chain coordination
  • forecasting
  • quality checks
  • records systems
  • operations analysis

Things to Try

  • Build a portfolio with stock logs, process maps, receiving records, and supply metrics, Complete a capstone tied to inventory control, procurement, or operations coordination, Compare pathways in warehousing, purchasing, transportation, and supply chain analysis, Practice using data and documentation to improve speed, accuracy, and availability

Focus Skills

  • Organization
  • Negotiation
  • Accuracy
  • Data analysis
  • Coordination

Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Bachelor's degree

Purchasing agents typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma.

Insider Info

Additional Information

There is no formal path towards becoming a livestock buyer, although many colleges and universities offer courses in animal marketing.

Some high schools, colleges and universities in the United States also field livestock judging teams. The Future Farmers of America and 4-H also offer programs that teach children how to judge livestock.

But the only way you can learn livestock buying is by working on feedlots, by working on ranches, and by being around animals, says livestock buyer Don Kracke.

"You really have to like livestock," he says. "That has to be a priority for you."

On the other hand, it doesn't hurt if you have a degree in marketing and computer science because the industry is constantly changing, says Kracke. He holds a degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska.

You may also have to get a license, and put up a line of credit.

License requirements vary in the United States. But each livestock buyer in the U.S. has to register with the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration.

Extra Requirements

Voluntary certifications are offered by the American Purchasing Society (APS), the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), and the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC).

For additional information, visit these websites: