Overview

A merchant is responsible for buying crops and agricultural products either to process them or resell them to customers. They build relationships with producers and sellers by providing them with tailored services and purchasing products at a fair price. Additionally, merchants will evaluate suppliers, negotiate purchasing agreements and follow market trends.

What responsibilities will I have?

• Negotiate contracts for crops and farm products
• Arrange the logistics and storage of purchased products
• Review orders to determine product types and quantities required to meet demand
• Travel to seller sites to assess the quality of products for their value and evidence of disease
• Supervise the trading of all commodities
• Learn and understand market trends and complex market dynamics
• Build customer relationships by expressing ideas and sharing opinions
• Understand and perform risk management
• Monitor inventory levels and previous sales records
• Secure and purchase from reliable supplies at the lowest possible price
• Provide customers with accurate market information and answers to questions
• Keep a database of producer and customer logs
• Negotiate and review contracts
• Supervise trading in all commodities
• Evaluate foreign and domestic suppliers based on quality, price, customer service, capacity and distribution

What education and training is required?

An associate or bachelor’s degree in agricultural business, agricultural marketing or a related agricultural field is required to be a merchant.

To pursue a career as an Merchant :

The following high school courses are recommended: agricultural education, biology, business, computer skills and mathematics.

Where can I work?

Merchants are typically employed by grain elevators, food production companies, animal nutrition companies, supermarkets and farm equipment retailers.

Future Job Market / Outlook

Good

Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations

• National Merchants Association
• Transportation, Elevator, and Grain Merchants Association
• National Agri-Marketing Association
• State or local merchant association