Agriculture and agribusiness
Agriculture EDI and API Integration
Seasonal orders, lot data and freight connected from the field to the buyer
Agriculture runs on seasons. Input suppliers stock cooperatives and farm retailers before planting, growers and packers ship perishable product to grocers and processors at harvest, and grain, feed and produce move by truck and rail. ECOM connects the orders, sales reports, lot data and freight documents between those businesses and the systems they run.
At a glance
Key documents
- 850 Purchase Orders
- 856 Ship Notices (ASN)
- 846 Inventory Reports
- 852 Sales and Stock Reports
- 867 Usage and Resale Reports
- 810 Invoices
- 204 Truck Load Tenders
Systems we integrate
- ERP and accounting
- Packing and grading
- Inventory and retail systems
- Transportation
PRISM products
- PRISM-EDI
- PRISM-WebEDI
- PRISM-SmartConvert
- PRISM-SCV
- Who we help
- Ag input manufacturers and retailers, growers, packers and shippers, grain and feed companies, livestock and dairy processors, and cooperatives.
- What we connect
- Seasonal orders, sales and inventory reports, lot and shipment data, scale and delivery tickets and settlements between your systems and each buyer, supplier and carrier.
- Problems we solve
- Peak-season volume, perishable lots that need traceability, and a mix of EDI, portals and paper across the chain.
- Even without EDI
- Many agricultural partners use portals, spreadsheets, PDFs, scale tickets and APIs rather than EDI. ECOM works with those routes as well.
What is agribusiness EDI?
Agribusiness EDI is the exchange of orders, ship notices, inventory, sales and invoice data between growers, packers, processors, input manufacturers, cooperatives, farm retailers and their customers and carriers. It uses ANSI X12 documents such as the 850, 856, 846, 852, 867 and 810, together with GS1 identifiers on product cases. Agricultural standards organizations such as AgGateway develop further data standards for crop inputs and precision agriculture.
Who you connect with
Who an agricultural business exchanges data with
Product and money move in both directions along the chain, and the parties change between inputs, harvest and processing.
-
Input manufacturers and retailers
Orders, sales reports, rebates
EDI, files, portals -
Growers, packers and shippers
Lot data, ship notices, invoices
EDI, web forms, spreadsheets -
Grain, feed and processors
Contracts, scale tickets, settlements
Files, portals, APIs -
Grocers and food buyers
Purchase orders, ASNs, traceability
Retailer EDI programs -
Carriers and rail
Load tenders, status
EDI and APIs
Agricultural workflows
Input sales, harvest and produce, grain and feed, and livestock and dairy are different projects
Each follows its own season and its own buyers. Regulatory references are kept to sources checked for this page.
-
Agricultural inputs (seed, crop protection, fertilizer, equipment)
Manufacturers selling to cooperatives, farm retailers and dealers.
- How it runs
- Pre-season orders and shipping schedules, then in-season replenishment. Retailers report sales and inventory, and rebates are reconciled.
- Systems
- ERP, dealer and retailer systems, rebate systems.
- Typical problem
- A short season compresses orders, and sales reports and rebates must reconcile.
-
Harvest and fresh produce
Growers, packers and shippers selling to grocers, foodservice and processors.
- How it runs
- Orders and ship notices carry lot or pack codes so buyers can trace product. Freight is tendered and tracked to delivery.
- Systems
- Packing house and ERP systems, retailer portals.
- Typical problem
- Lot data must match the label on the pallet and the ship notice, and retailers check both.
Source note. FDA's food traceability rule (FSMA Section 204) applies to foods on the Food Traceability List; FDA has said it will not enforce before July 20, 2028. Confirm what applies to your product.
Food and beverage -
Grain and feed
Elevators, merchandisers, feed mills and processors.
- How it runs
- Contracts, scale tickets, grade and quality results and delivery settlements move between producers, elevators and buyers, often as files or portal data.
- Systems
- Elevator and grain accounting systems, ERP, transport systems.
- Typical problem
- Tickets and settlements come in varied formats and are re-keyed.
Source note. Industry groups such as AgGateway have published grain and commodity data work. Settlement formats are usually agreed with each buyer, and no single format is assumed here.
-
Livestock and dairy
Processors, packers, cooperatives and the producers who supply them.
- How it runs
- Pickup and delivery records, quality results and payments are exchanged between producers or cooperatives and processors; product shipments follow the buyer's EDI program.
- Systems
- Processor and cooperative systems, ERP, logistics.
- Typical problem
- Volume and quality records must reconcile to payment, and finished product follows retailer rules.
-
Commodity settlement and payments
Finance teams settling deliveries and contracts.
- How it runs
- Delivery data is matched to contract terms and prices, and settlement and remittance detail is sent for payment.
- Documents
- Systems
- Commodity accounting, bank files, ERP.
- Typical problem
- A settlement that cannot be traced to its deliveries is disputed.
How to read this page: a standard or system named here shows where a requirement is published or what ECOM can connect. It does not mean ECOM has a verified partnership with any named company, and your own contracts and partners define the final requirements.
Who it's for
Different roles, different workflows
-
Growers, packers and shippers
You sell fresh or packed product to grocers, foodservice distributors and processors, with lot data on each case and ship notices that must reach the buyer before the truck.
-
Input manufacturers and suppliers
Seed, crop protection, fertilizer and equipment suppliers sell through cooperatives and dealers, and need inventory and sales data back for planning and programs.
-
Cooperatives and farm retailers
You buy from many manufacturers, sell to growers and to rural shoppers, and report inventory and sales to suppliers that run seasonal programs.
How the workflow runs
A season of supply, from input program to harvest shipment
Input suppliers plan with cooperatives and retailers before the season, and harvest product moves quickly to buyers with lot data that keeps it traceable.
- Co-op or ag retailer→Input supplier 850 Pre-season order Stocking orders for the season.
- Input supplier→Co-op or ag retailer 856 Ship notice Products, lots and quantities shipped.
- Co-op or ag retailer→Input supplier 852 Sales and inventory What sold and what remains, by location.
- Grocer or processor→Grower or packer 850 Harvest order Commodity, pack, grade and delivery date.
- Grower or packer→Grocer or processor 856 Ship notice with lots Case lot codes matching the labels.
- Grower or packer→Grocer or processor 810 Invoice Billed on shipped or accepted quantities.
- 01
Plan the season
Pre-season orders and forecasts let input suppliers position product at cooperatives and dealers before demand peaks.
- 02
Report what sells
Sales and inventory reports from retailers and cooperatives show suppliers where product is moving and where it is not.
- 03
Ship with lot data
Harvest shipments carry lot codes on case labels and in ship notices, so buyers can trace product by lot.
- 04
Move freight on time
Load tenders, status and freight invoices connect shippers with truck and rail carriers for time-sensitive loads.
- 05
Invoice and settle
Invoices follow shipped or accepted quantities, and adjustments for rejected product are traced to their cause.
Beyond EDI
Every way agricultural data arrives, kept with the lot
Orders, scale tickets, lot codes and settlements arrive in different forms. ECOM maps each to your system and keeps the lot attached to the shipment.
How it arrives
- EDI850 orders, 856 notices, 867 sales reports
- PortalBuyer and cooperative portals
- APIFarm, elevator and logistics services
- SpreadsheetDelivery, price and settlement sheets
- PDF or emailScale tickets and contracts
- Flat fileAgreed commodity and accounting files
ECOM
- Validate every file or message
- Map to each partner's rules
- Deliver, acknowledge and monitor
Where it goes
- ERP and inventory
- Lot records
- Program reporting
- Invoices
Challenges
Integration challenges in agriculture and agribusiness
Demand that arrives all at once
Planting and harvest compress months of orders into weeks, with no time to re-key documents.
Traceability by lot
Buyers and regulations increasingly expect lot-level records for fresh food, captured as product is packed and shipped.
Sales data from many outlets
Input suppliers depend on cooperative and dealer sales reports that arrive in many formats.
Perishable freight
Produce and live inputs cannot wait for a missing tender response or a delayed ship notice.
How we help
How ECOM supports agriculture and agribusiness companies
-
Order and ship notice integration
Orders, acknowledgments, ship notices and invoices with grocers, processors, cooperatives and dealers, connected to your ERP.
-
Lot data in documents
Lot codes and pack dates from packing systems carried into ship notices to match case labels.
-
Sales and inventory reporting
852 and 867 sales and inventory data from cooperatives and retailers loaded for supplier programs and planning.
-
Carrier connectivity
Load tenders, status messages and freight invoices exchanged with truck and rail carriers.
-
Smaller partners
Growers, dealers and suppliers without EDI can work through a browser or send documents for conversion.
-
Monitoring
Missing ship notices, late status and failed documents visible as exceptions during peak season.
PRISM products
Which PRISM products apply
Each partner connects in the way it can support. These products cover the connections and visibility this industry needs most.
-
PRISM-EDI
Exchange of orders, ship notices, sales reports and invoices with buyers, cooperatives, suppliers and carriers.
-
PRISM-WebEDI
Browser-based orders, ship notices and invoices for growers, dealers and suppliers without EDI systems.
-
PRISM-SmartConvert
Orders, sales reports and invoices that arrive as PDFs, emails or spreadsheets converted into structured data.
-
PRISM-SCV
Monitoring of transactions and exceptions across buyers, suppliers and carriers during peak periods.
Systems integration
What agribusiness EDI connects to
Lot and sales data come from different places, and integration brings them to the documents partners need.
From
- Seasonal orders
- Lot and pack data
- Sales reports
- Carrier events
ECOM · Ag supply exchange
- Check items and lots
- Map per buyer
- Route by season
To
- ERP and inventory
- Lot records
- Program reporting
- Invoices
| System | What flows | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| ERP and accounting | Orders, invoices, settlements and payments. | Commodity pricing and settlement terms vary by buyer and season. |
| Packing and grading | Lots, pack dates, grades and case counts. | Ship notices must use the same lot codes printed on the cases. |
| Inventory and retail systems | Stock and sales by location for supplier programs. | Agree reporting periods and location identifiers with each supplier. |
| Transportation | Tenders, status and freight bills for truck and rail. | Temperature-controlled loads may need extra status detail. |
Traceability
Lot data for fresh food
Fresh produce and other foods on FDA's Food Traceability List are subject to the Food Traceability Rule (FSMA section 204). FDA has said it will not enforce the rule before July 20, 2028.
-
Case-level lot codes
Produce case labels built on GS1 standards carry the GTIN and lot, which ship notices can repeat.
Case-level lot codes in detail -
Records that travel with the shipment
Integration can carry lot and date data in the documents buyers receive. Each business remains responsible for its own regulatory records.
Trading partners
Guides for farm retailers, cooperatives and equipment makers
Integration guides for agricultural retailers, cooperatives and manufacturers.
All retailer guides-
Southern States
Farm supply cooperative; the guide covers its supplier EDI documents and what to plan for.
Southern States in detail -
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative
Farm supply cooperative; the guide covers documents and connection options.
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative in detail -
Intermountain Farmers Association
Farm and ranch cooperative retailer; the guide covers documents and planning points.
Intermountain Farmers Association in detail -
Fleet Farm
Farm and outdoor retailer; the guide covers its supplier EDI documents.
Fleet Farm in detail -
John Deere
Agricultural equipment manufacturer; the guide covers the documents its suppliers exchange.
John Deere in detail
Implementation
What to plan for in an agribusiness EDI project
-
Be live before the season
Schedule testing so partners are in production well before planting or harvest volume starts.
-
Capture lots where product is packed
Lot codes should come from the packing system, not be typed at shipping.
-
Agree sales reporting formats
Settle the format, period and location codes for sales and inventory reports with each cooperative or dealer.
Documents and standards
Common transactions
Common X12 documents in agricultural supply chains. Partners and programs decide the exact set.
| Code | Document | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 850 | Purchase Orders | Orders inputs or product. |
| 856 | Ship Notices (ASN)X12 name: Ship Notice/Manifest | Describes the shipment with lots. |
| 846 | Inventory ReportsX12 name: Inventory Inquiry/Advice | Reports available inventory. |
| 852 | Sales and Stock ReportsX12 name: Product Activity Data | Reports sales and inventory. |
| 867 | Usage and Resale ReportsX12 name: Product Transfer and Resale Report | Reports resales to suppliers. |
| 810 | Invoices | Bills for product shipped. |
| 204 | Truck Load TendersX12 name: Motor Carrier Load Tender | Tenders a load to a carrier. |
Scenarios
Typical integration scenarios
Packer selling to grocers
Meet grocer order, ship notice and label requirements with lot data on every case.
Input supplier running programs
Collect sales and inventory reports from cooperatives and dealers to plan the season.
Cooperative automating purchasing
Send orders and receive ship notices and invoices from manufacturers before peak season.
Frequently asked questions
Which EDI documents do agribusinesses use?
Common documents are the 850 purchase order, 856 ship notice, 810 invoice, 846 and 852 inventory and sales reports and 867 resale reports, plus 204, 214 and 210 for freight.
Can EDI support produce traceability?
Yes. Ship notices can carry the lot codes printed on GS1-based case labels, so buyers receive lot data with each shipment. Each business keeps its own traceability records.
When does the FDA Food Traceability Rule apply?
The original compliance date was January 20, 2026. FDA has said it will not enforce the rule before July 20, 2028. Check FDA's rule page for the current position.
Does ECOM provide farm management or grain accounting software?
No. ECOM integrates documents and data with the ERP, packing and inventory systems you already run.
How to get started
Tell us who you trade with and what you run
- Send the basics. Your trading partners, the documents they require, your ERP or other systems, and any deadline.
- We review the requirements. An ECOM specialist looks at the partner programs, document formats and connections involved.
- You decide how to proceed. We outline the options, including managed services or software, for you to compare.
Helpful to share, but not required
You do not need an implementation guide or a finished requirements list to contact us. If you have these, they speed things up:
- Whether you sell inputs, ship harvested product, handle grain or feed, or process livestock or dairy.
- The buyers, cooperatives or carriers you connect first and their requirements if you have them; if not, we can help identify them.
- Your ERP or farm, elevator or processing system, and your peak season dates.
- What traceability or settlement data you need to exchange.
See how ECOM works with customers: case studies ERP integrations compare delivery options (software, managed or team-based)
Be ready before the season starts
Tell us which buyers, cooperatives or suppliers you need to connect and when your season begins. An ECOM specialist will outline a timeline.