The program fits into Bushel’s broader digital payments work across agriculture, connecting farmers, grain buyers, ag retailers and lenders through streamlined financial workflows.
Paper checks still dominate grain settlements. According to Bushel’s State of the Farm research, 80% of grain settlement checks are distributed by paper, with lien requirements cited as one of the main reasons digital payments stall. When a farmer has a lien attached to grain proceeds, grain buyers often resort to two-party checks, mailed documents, manual lien searches, stop payments or time-consuming coordination between farmers and lienholders.
“Giving producers a more efficient payment experience matters to us,” said Seth Stephens, general manager at United Ag in Texas. “Bushel’s Lien Protection Program helps us keep payments moving while Bushel handles the lien review and payment distribution process.”
The program allows agribusinesses to pay an escrow-like account from their accounting system using existing ACH workflows. Once funds arrive, Bushel conducts the lien review, coordinates with lienholders when needed, documents agreements electronically and distributes funds to the appropriate parties. The program includes indemnification for the agribusiness against a missed lien.
Farmers have expressed interest in digital alternatives. Bushel’s State of the Farm Report shows 72.2% of farmers dissatisfied with the current manual process say they would likely use a digital alternative to collect signatures and release funds. Rural mail delays can hold up check delivery, and farmers spend time driving around for signatures or waiting on paper processes.
“Liens have been one of the hardest parts of moving grain payments into a paperless workflow,” said Nathan Joraanstad, fintech product manager at Bushel. “Grain buyers want to protect their business, and farmers want a better way to get paid.”
Bushel research shows paying by two-party check costs approximately $20 per payment. The Lien Protection Program is expected to average less than half that cost while helping reduce risk from delayed checks, check washing exposure, stolen checks and other check fraud.
The Bushel Network connects more than 3,500 grain and ag retail facilities and powers more than 50% of grain origination in the United States.
