LISTS OF 39 AGRICULTURAL AND 37 NONAGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES, ABILITIES, AND UNDERSTANDINGS NEEDED BY MALES EMPLOYED IN WHOLESALE FARM MACHINERY DISTRIBUTION WERE DEVELOPED BY 18 SELECTED EMPLOYEES OF WHOLESALE FARM MACHINERY FIRMS AND SENT IN QUESTIONNAIRE FORM TO 180 EMPLOYEES OF WHOLESALE FARM MACHINERY FIRMS THAT WERE COOPERATING MEMBERS OF THE IOWA EQUIPMENT CLUB IN DES MOINES, IOWA. EACH EMPLOYEE RATED THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE COMPETENCY WAS NEEDED IN THE JOB AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH HE POSSESSED THE COMPETENCY. TO DETERMINE PRESENT AND FUTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AN ADDITIONAL FORM WAS SENT TO 16 BRANCH OR OFFICE FIRM MANAGERS. SOME FINDINGS WERE--(1) OF THE 145 EMPLOYEES RESPONDING, 73.8 PERCENT WORKED FOR MAJOR COMPANIES WITH COMPLETE LINES OF MACHINERY, 17.9 PERCENT FOR MAJOR COMPANIES WITH INCOMPLETE LINES OF MACHINERY, AND 8.3 PERCENT FOR SHORT LINE COMPANIES, (2) NEARLY ONE-HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS WERE EMPLOYED IN SALES, AND ABOUT ONE-FOURTH IN PARTS AND SERVICE AREAS. AGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES HAVING THE HIGHEST MEAN RATING WERE IN THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT AGRICULTURAL TRAINING SESSIONS FOR OTHERS, (2) THE UNDERSTANDING OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND THE FARM ECONOMY, (3) THE UNDERSTANDING OF FARMERS CREDIT SOURCES, (4) THE UNDERSTANDING OF NEW IDEAS AND TRENDS IN FARM OPERATION, AND (5) THE UNDERSTANDING OF MACHINE CAPABILITIES. THE MOST IMPORTANT NONAGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES WERE (1) THE ABILITIES TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ACCURATELY, MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FACTUAL AND OBJECTIVE REASONING, AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, AND (2) THE UNDERSTANDINGS OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE AND SALESMANSHIP. EMPLOYMENT HAD INCREASED BY 5 PERCENT BETWEEN 1958 AND 1963 BUT WAS EXPECTED TO DECREASE BY 1.2 PERCENT BY 1968. THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL EMPLOYEE REPLACEMENT NEED IN THE WHOLESALE FARM MACHINERY DISTRIBUTION IN THE IOWA AREA WAS SEVEN PERSONS. THE RESULTS IMPLIED THAT--FARM BACKGROUND, AGE, AND YEARS OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE DID NOT HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE ON EMPLOYMENT AS A MANAGER IN WHOLESALE FARM EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION, AND SECONDARY VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS SHOULD CONSIDER INCLUDING MANAGER, SALES, PARTS AND SERVICE, AND ACCOUNTING AND CLERICAL TRAINING. (WB)