New app looks to simplify farm shipping

A new app that connects farmers directly with shippers could end up shaking things up in the agriculture industry.

“This is very disruptive, there’s no doubt about it,” said Gerry Ritz, a former federal agriculture minister and current Dominion Blockchain board member.

The company is a partner with the new GoGrain app.

Ritz explained it’s an app that allows farmers to post what they want to ship, where they want it to go and when they want it to get there. It’s all done through iPads or smartphones and Ritz said it’s similar to technology farmers are already working with in some cases.

There are two things in the app that are really important and new, according to Ritz. The first is that it creates traceability from the point you have the agreement in place.

“It shows the truck on its way to your farm. It gives you an idea when he’s going to arrive so you’re not standing there leaning against the bin, waiting for three hours,” said Ritz.

As the product is on its way, Ritz said that traceability is important for premium markets like Japan, Korea, and Europe.

The other benefit of the app is that it speeds up payment.

“It guarantees that the trucker is going to get paid within 36 to 48 hours – now it’s usually that in days. And what happens is the shipper puts the money into a trust account under that GoGrain app, and as soon as the delivery is done to the satisfaction of both, then the payment is triggered,” explained Ritz.

Ritz said the app is particularly useful these days, when loads aren’t just being shipped to a nearby elevator but rather are going to feedlots or processors sometimes in neighbouring provinces.

The app has been piloted in Saskatchewan this summer and Ritz said the company is also looking to expand into the U.S. and Australia.