Procurement Offering

We were challenged to buy better with security of supply.

Farming comes with a variety of challenges beyond the obvious issues like yield, weather, or machinery breakdowns. In recent years, procurement and product supply have emerged as additional hurdles. Before joining Sentry, our client often felt like a small fish in a big pond. They didn’t have the time to explore how they could make more cost-effective purchasing decisions. As a mid-sized farm, they had some buying power, but no real benchmarks to compare against. Traditional buying groups can feel disconnected from the hands-on farming experience, sometimes compromising a sense of independence. That’s why they wanted a partner with practical farming expertise. Since Sentry already provided consultancy, it was a natural fit to explore their procurement services as well.

We began with a benchmarking exercise. The farm was planning some significant machinery purchases, so we used our relationship with Claas to secure a highly competitive quote on a combine, delivering immediate savings. We also reviewed past fertiliser and seed purchases, comparing last year’s farm figures with ours, factoring in price and extended payment terms that come as standard. Finally, we provided grain marketing advice. While the client was already satisfied with ADM’s guidance, partnering with us provided them with additional benefits, such as payments based on known weights.

• Changed the buying policy to utilise the Sentry network.
• Purchased a Claas combine, with a significant saving.
• Purchased seed with the benefit of an annual support payment.
• Purchased fertiliser at a more competitive price and improved payment terms.
• Joined the ADM Wheat Fund, benefiting from Sentry's preferential payment terms.

Our client achieved significant savings on the combine, secured rebates on seed, and reduced their fertiliser costs through Sentry’s bulk buying policy. Additionally, they received valuable support in grain marketing, boosting confidence in crop sales.

"Buying fertilisers through Sentry has been most valuable. Thanks to Sentry’s strong relationships with suppliers, we receive outstanding service, reliable deliveries, and flexible payment terms. We have used Agrii for our C2 seed needs for several years, and the competitive pricing from Sentry has been a significant advantage. This also benefits our home-saved seed, as we rely on Agrii’s mobile seed dressing services. Another key partner for us is Spaldings, who consistently provide high-quality parts, and nearly always at the best price. On the rare occasion they aren’t, they’re open to negotiation, which we greatly appreciate."