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On paper, quoting sounds simple.
But if you work at an ag retail facility---or a co-op that runs both agronomy and grain---you know how fast "simple" turns into messy. A normal day includes field visits, supplier price updates, texts from farmers, and a growing list of quotes to send out... ideally before the farmer makes a call without you.
Your team works hard to stay responsive. The process often makes it harder than it needs to be.
One rep tracks quotes in a spreadsheet. Another texts pricing back and forth. Someone else keeps notes on paper in the truck. The CRM exists, but it's rarely up to date.
And in the middle sits the relationship you've earned---with a farmer who expects clarity, consistency, and follow-through.
Ag retailers and co-ops struggle with scattered quoting workflows that undermine trust and slow sales. Farmers still value relationships but increasingly expect fast, transparent quotes and digital follow-through. Centralized, integrated tools like Bushel Quoting align teams, speed approvals, and sync CRM/back office data to reduce errors and rework. The result is faster responses, higher conversion, protected margin, and clear, measurable ROI.
Farmers count on you for more than product. They want help making smart decisions about inputs, timing, and pricing.
But trust doesn't come with a pause button.
After the conversation ends, the clock starts. If the quote shows up late, carries the wrong price, or never arrives at all, the farmer starts asking the quiet question: Are they really paying attention?
Here's what quoting looks like for too many ag retailers today:
It's not a lack of effort. It's a lack of flow.
Relationships still matter. Farmers still want the conversation, especially for bigger decisions.
But more farmers also want the option to act on their own schedule---without chasing paperwork or waiting on callbacks. Our latest State of the Farm research shows:
Farmers aren't ditching relationships. They want better follow-through after the conversation.
Picture a day where quoting doesn't slow your team down:
A rep checks the CRM before calling a farmer and sees recent activity, past orders, and notes from last fall. They talk through seed options and crop plans. Right after the call, the rep sends a quote through Bushel Quoting.
The farmer gets clear line items, accurate pricing, and a simple way to accept or decline digitally. The CRM logs everything automatically, so the team stays aligned. The back office sees what changed and what the farmer approved---without retyping anything.
No chasing.
No "Which price did we promise?"
No clean-up later.
Just a smooth handoff from conversation to sale.
A streamlined quote process feels better for farmers. It also shows up on your P&L.
Let's Talk Numbers
Admin time saved: $3,200--$4,000/year per location
Quote conversion lift: +5% = $250,000 revenue on $5M in input sales
Margin protection from disputes: $10K--$15K annually
Total cost savings per quote $6--$7
Why does quoting get so messy for ag retailers and co-ops?
The work is spread across disconnected tools and channels—spreadsheets, texts, paper notes, and a CRM that’s rarely current. Verbal quotes aren’t captured before prices move, approvals get buried in inboxes, different team members share different numbers, signatures require repeated follow-ups, managers can’t see the pipeline, and admins retype details into the ERP. It’s not a lack of effort—it’s a lack of flow—which slows sales and erodes trust.
What do farmers actually want from the quoting and buying experience?
Short answer: Speed, transparency, and the option to act digitally—without sacrificing the relationship. Research shows 37% of farmers say input buying needs improvement (price clarity and easier access to quotes), 25% of farmers under 40 want to order inputs online but fewer than 5% can today, and 62% of farmers under 40 prefer to transfer funds via mobile app. They still want the conversation; they just expect better follow-through after it.
How does a centralized tool like Bushel Quoting change day-to-day work?
It aligns the team and streamlines handoffs. Reps see recent CRM activity, send clear, accurate, line-item quotes, and get digital accept/decline. The CRM logs it automatically, approvals move faster, and the back office sees what changed and what was approved—without retyping. That means fewer follow-ups, consistent pricing, better pipeline visibility, and a faster path from conversation to sale.
Where does the ROI show up with a better quoting process?
In time saved, higher conversion, and fewer disputes. Numbers cited: $3,200–$4,000 in admin time saved per location annually; a 5% lift in quote conversion equals about $250,000 in revenue on $5M in input sales; $10K–$15K in annual margin protection from dispute reduction; and $6–$7 total cost savings per quote.
How does this protect margin and strengthen relationships?
Consistent, system-backed pricing and captured approvals reduce errors and disagreements, protecting margin. Faster, transparent quotes signal reliability, so farmers don’t have to chase details or second-guess numbers. The result is clearer expectations, fewer surprises, and stronger trust—without slowing the sale.
