THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE VOCATIONAL COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR EMPLOYMENT BELOW THE MANUFACTURING LEVEL IN THE AGRICULTURAL-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MICHIGAN. NINE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED IN THE INDUSTRY WERE LISTED--RESEARCH, TRANSPORTATION, PROCESSING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, SALES, SERVICE, OFFICE RECORDS AND MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND PURCHASING. COMPETENCIES NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF EACH FUNCTION WERE COMPILED AND CHECKED BY AGRICULTURAL-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY STAFF MEMBERS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDUSTRY. SELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AGRICULTURAL-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY RATED THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE COMPETENCIES ON A FOUR-POINT SCALE WITH FOUR BEING THE HIGHEST RATING. SOME COMPETENCIES GIVEN HIGH MEAN RATINGS WERE (1) USING MANY BASIC SKILLS REQUIRED FOR TESTING AGRICULTURAL-CHEMICAL MATERIALS, (2) RECOMMENDING PROCEDURES FOR REDUCING TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND INCREASING EFFICIENCY, (3) UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING FEDERAL AND STATE HEALTH REGULATIONS REGARDING LABELING AND USING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS, (4) ASSISTING FARMERS IN PLANNING PROGRAMS FOR CONTROL OF INSECTS, PARASITES, AND WEEDS, AND (5) KEEPING ABREAST OF DEVELOPING TRENDS, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, AND NEW FARM TECHNOLOGY. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE IS A NECESSARY PART OF ANY VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM AND THAT TRAINING PROGRAMS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO PREPARE WORKERS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY AT ANY LEVEL. (WB)