Two years ago the NFU called on the grain trade to adopt an electronic information exchange, encompassing grain passports and sample results, to improve transparency and enable farmers to get earlier access to test results.

The union pointed out the procedure for grain deliveries was outdated, cumbersome and slow. Farmers had to manually fill in paper passports, rarely got to see the sample results of grain once delivered, and were often only told about quality price reductions days or even weeks later.

Fast forward two years and grain marketing giant Frontier is the first to launch a smartphone app that allows growers to connect directly with the Frontier business system, thereby receiving this vital information more rapidly, as well as other information like planned deliveries and collections of grain and other inputs.

“Having quick and easy access to grain load quality information will enable growers to act swiftly to match consumer specifications,” believes Alistair Knott, commercial director for Frontier.

The app released this summer contains six main features: movements, futures, grain sample analysis, finances, news and weather. But it is the movements and grain sample analysis that are the two most valuable features on the app, where growers can view their planned and actual, grain and crop input movements, including grain load quality test results.

“We will generally show up to 90 days of planned movements of grain, seed and fertiliser. The farmer can click on to the planned movement part, see when it is going to be collected or delivered and also see the contact name, and the phone number of the haulier,” says Mr Knott.

On intakes that are linked electronically with Frontier, growers can also view actual movements and quality data on loads that have gone in. “You will be provided instantly with the quality and quantity data. Some of the results will arrive overnight and some of them are instant.”

Any information on the loads can be communicated between the farmer and the merchant quickly and allow them to make any adjustments if necessary, says Mr Knott.

“For example, if the moisture has crept up a bit high, he can get the lorry to go to another heap and then put it through the dryer to achieve the right moisture content.”

Ben Cannon farms with his family at Hyde Hall Farm, near Buntingford in North Hertfordshire and is one of 1,000 farmers that have been using the app, since its release in the summer.

“Since July, I’ve used it almost everyday. It’s particularly useful when you are out in the field at harvest.”

Mr Cannon says the most important part of the app during harvest is the grain sample analysis, which gives the farmer the results of any analysis done by Frontier as soon as the lab finds them out.

“The real time samples are very handy. What we have done is number all our bays in the store so when they come and test it at harvest time or when we are about to sell it, we have a good idea of what we have to sell in the heap, right at out fingertips.”

“The real time samples are very handy. What we have done is number all our bays in the store so when they come and test it at harvest time or when we are about to sell it, we have a good idea of what we have to sell in the heap, right at out fingertips.”
Farmer Ben Cannon

However, Mr Cannon is undecided on whether the app can help him in preventing grain deductions. “You’ll have tests which says its fine and then it will go off to the mill and they will say it is different.”

He does, however, hope technology such as this can be embraced along the supply chain helping to improve efficiency and push the industry forwards.

In conclusion, Mr Knott sees it as the start of the increased use of electronic information. “We believe we provide a fairly transparent system online already, but the app gives you it on the go and is, hopefully, just the starting point,” he says.

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