The Farm Purchasing Agent coordinates and directs activities of workers engaged in cutting, transporting, storing or milling products and in maintaining records.
Primary Objectives:
- The Farm Purchasing Agent primary objective is that in coordinating and directing activities of workers.
- The Farm Purchasing Agent primary objective is that of maintaining accurate records.
- The Farm Purchasing Agent arranges the processing and resale of purchased products.
The Farm Purchasing Agent must arrange for transportation or storage of purchased products. Since the products might be ready for the consumer before the buyer has time to process then often the product has to be stored in a holding facility. Often the Farm Purchasing Agent has access to several warehouse facilities that product can be stored until it is time to put it on the market. The Farm Purchasing Agent tries to coordinate the process so that the goods are not kept too long in storage especially if they are dealing with perishable items. The Farm Purchasing Agent must arrange for the processing and resale of products while they are in storage.
The Farm Purchasing Agent must examine and test crops and products to estimate their value, determine their grade, and locate any evidence of disease or insect damage. The Farm Purchasing Agent must keep records of business transactions and product inventories, reporting data to companies or governmental agencies as necessary. Often the Farm Purchasing Agent negotiates contracts with farmers for the production or purchase of farm products. While the Farm Purchasing Agent is negotiating contracts for products from the farmer he is also purchasing for further processing or for resale farm products such as milk, grains, and Christmas Trees. The Farm Purchasing Agent reviews orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demands.
The Farm Purchasing Agent often advises farm groups and growers on land preparation and livestock care techniques that will maximize the quantity and quality of production. A good Farm Purchasing Agent usually is capable of estimating land production possibilities, surveying properly and studying factors such as crop rotation history, soil fertility, and irrigation facilities. A Farm Purchasing Agent is known as a buyer at times because besides purchasing he must also buy supplies such as seed, feed, fertilizers, and insecticides, and arrange for loans or financing as necessary. It is very vital that he is capable of handling the buying for the farmers as well as finding financing for some who wish to extend their output. When he is handling government contracts he must be able to calculate applicable government grain quotas.
The Farm Purchasing Agent needs to have knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Farm Purchasing Agent also needs to have good mathematical knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus statistics and their applications. The Farm Purchasing Agent must have knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing and harvesting food products. He also needs to know the proper procedures for storage and handling food products for both plant and animal. He needs knowledge of production and processing that of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Farm Purchasing Agents must have knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. That’s one of the ways that his understanding of the English language is very important. Since he is working with the financial markets the Farm Purchasing Agent must have a good knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data. The Farm Purchasing Agent has knowledge of principles and methods for showing promoting, and selling products and services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. The Farm Purchasing Agent has good knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources, modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
One of the most important attributes that a Farm Purchasing Agent has is that of having good judgment and making decisions. He must be able to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. He works by his wits but of course with all his training and expertise he is more than capable to make right decisions.