High School
You should take classes in business, accounting, history, and economics to get a sense of world markets and trading. English and composition courses will help you develop communication skills needed for working with farmers, managers, and other agribusiness professionals. Mathematics classes will help you prepare for the accounting, calculating, and analysis involved in this work. If your high school offers courses in agriculture, take those that will teach you about crop production. Other classes that will give you an understanding of plant growth and the environment include earth science, biology, and chemistry.
Postsecondary Training
Though you may be able to get some assistant positions with only a high school diploma, many grain merchants have undergraduate or graduate degrees in agriculture, economics, or business management from a college or university. However, two-year programs can also be beneficial. In either case, the prospective grain merchant should take courses in agricultural economics, accounting, purchasing, finance, and business law. As finances in the agricultural sector tighten and some farmers go out of business, future grain merchants will probably deal with fewer, more specialized farms.
In addition to formal education, buyers and purchasing agents typically complete at least one year of on-the-job training during which they learn how to negotiate with suppliers and perform other basic tasks.
Other Education or Training
The Grain Elevator and Processing Society offers continuing education (CE) opportunities at its annual conference and other meetings, as well as online courses. The American Purchasing Society, Institute for Supply Management, and NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement also provide CE classes and seminars. Contact these organizations to learn more.
- Agribusiness Technicians
- Agricultural Consultants
- Agricultural Equipment Technicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Agricultural Scientists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Physical Therapists
- Antiques and Art Dealers
- Aquaculturists
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Beekeepers
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Botanists
- Buyers
- Chemists
- Commodities Brokers
- Cultural Advisers
- Customs Brokers
- Customs Officials
- Dairy Products Manufacturing Workers
- Ecologists
- Economists
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Export-Import Specialists
- Farm Crop Production Technicians
- Farm Equipment Mechanics
- Farmers
- Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Fishers
- Food Technologists
- Groundwater Professionals
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Interpreters
- Meatcutters and Meat Packers
- Merchant Mariners
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Nursery Owners and Managers
- Organic Farmers
- Range Managers
- Retail Business Owners
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Translators