THE COTTON industry is moving with the times and has given growers the option to market crops online through the newly launched website, Agbay.
Agbay was developed by Cotton Grower Services (CGS) in conjunction with several cotton growers and industry bodies.
The idea of the website is to assist growers in marketing any of their crop that’s left over from a forward contract.
Listing and buying cotton on the site is free for growers and marketers.
CGS administration manager, Peter Jensen, said most cotton growers would usually only forward contract up to two thirds of their crop.
Most of the time, growers have cotton left over from their contract and have to sell it later in the cotton season when prices could have dropped.
Mr Jensen said the website was about trying to maximise what growers get for their left over crop and also, helping those who may not have been able to fill a contract.
“It could be an easy way to help fill an order,” he said.
Mr Jensen said cotton growers usually use the phone when marketing cotton, which is becoming outdated.
Agbay gives growers and marketers instant access to what crop’s available for sale from all over the country.
“We could put their cotton on the web and they could get offers from anywhere,” he said.
The idea of the website is very simple and easy to use for growers and marketers.
It works as a bidding system where growers can remain anonymous until a deal is decided.
Interested buyers can bid on the listed items and the sellers are notified via email when they receive a bid on their cotton.
When a deal is reached, both growers would receive an email with each other’s contact details.
Mr Jensen said the buyer and seller can then communicate on how they want to pay for the cotton using their normal options.
Mr Jensen said they wanted to use the website purely to advertise growers’ cotton- not to be involved in the financial exchange of growers.
No money will change hand on the website.
This would also allow growers to make payments how they choose- whether it be a banking transaction or a cheque.
The website is completely functional for this year’s cotton picking season, with growers just having to make an account to advertise or buy cotton.
Mr Jensen said CGS took advice from cotton growers on how they wanted the website to function when they were developing it.
