Survey: Identifying Business Challenges
From financial pressure on farmers, to manufacturer-direct sales of crop inputs, our State Of The Industry survey results show a number of significant threats to retailers.
As part of the State Of The Industry report, we surveyed retailers to find out what they considered to be their most important business challenges over the next 2 to 3 years. In the survey, respondents rated several business issues on a scale from 1 (not a threat) to 5 (major threat). Here is a brief summary of our findings:
- Competitor Issues. More than 30% of survey respondents said broker-type sales of crop inputs by retail competitors is a "major threat" to business. View Chart
- Customer Issues. More than 60% of our respondents indicated financial pressure on farmers is a moderate (4) to major (5) threat to their business. View Chart
- Manufacturer/Distributor Issues. Direct sales to farmers by manufacturers of crop inputs is a major threat, according to 41% of survey respondents. View Chart
- Technology Issues. More than 60% of respondents said market uncertainty about acceptance of GMO products is little (2) to no threat (1) to their business. View Chart
- General Issues. Access to quality labor/employees is considered a moderate (4) to major (5) threat to business by more than 70% of survey respondents. View Chart
