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 at a separate Leadership Education and Networking Workshop. 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.

Certification or Licensing

Grain merchants in commodity futures, who deal directly with the public, must be licensed by the federal government. They must also meet a code of ethics and a series of guidelines set up to test their skills. Voluntary certification is available through several organizations, including the Institute for Supply Management, which offers the certified professional in supply management designation, and the American Purchasing Society, which offers the certified purchasing professional, certified professional purchasing manager, certified professional purchasing consultant, and other designations. The Universal Public Procurement Certification Council provides the certified professional public buyer and certified public procurement officer designations for those employed by federal, state, and local governments. All certifications require meeting educational and work experience requirements, and successfully completing oral and written exams.

Students should obtain as much experience in the field as possible by participating in summer internships or co-ops. Some grain merchants enter the field after first obtaining experience as grain elevator workers or commodities exchange clerks.

In order to be successful, you must have an excellent rapport with farmers and other suppliers. This relationship determines whether you'll be able to get a good price on the grain, favorable payment terms, quick delivery on emergency orders, or help in obtaining the grain during times of scarcity. To negotiate these and other conditions, you must have good communications skills, be able to work effectively with others, and handle high-pressure situations. You must be persuasive, diplomatic, and cooperative. As with most business jobs, one gets ahead with initiative, dependability, good judgment, and trustworthiness.