AS A BASIS FOR ESTABLISHING FOUR PILOT PROGRAMS IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS, COMPETENCIES NEEDED BY EMPLOYEES IN AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY BUSINESSES WERE DETERMINED BY A SURVEY OF 90 EMPLOYEES IN 65 BUSINESSES IN KENTUCKY. THE COMPETENCIES WERE GROUPED BY UNDERSTANDINGS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES. OF 251 COMPETENCIES SURVEYED IN THE SIX MAJOR AREAS OF FEEDS, SEEDS, FERTILIZERS, AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS, BUSINESS AND GENERAL COMPETENCIES, 146 OR 60 PERCENT WERE RATED BY 70 PERCENT OR MORE OF THE MANAGER AND ASSISTANT MANAGER INTERVIEWEES AS BEING "VERY HELPFUL." CLASS INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE GEARED TO THE COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT AND TO OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP THESE COMPETENCIES. TABLES PROVIDE SPECIFIC COMPETENCY RATINGS FOR EACH OF THE SIX AREAS. INTERVIEW INSTRUMENTS ARE INCLUDED. (JM)