Mercer Landmark announced on Apr. 17 that agricultural retailers play a key role in helping consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies achieve sustainability goals within their supply chains.
The announcement highlights the growing importance of local ag retailers as partners for CPG companies facing pressure to demonstrate progress on sustainability. The organization said ag retailers can design practical interventions, accelerate adoption of sustainable practices, and ensure accurate reporting by leveraging their relationships with farmers and expertise in commodity production and data analytics.
According to Mercer Landmark, ag retailers provide long-term solutions tailored to local conditions by working closely with farmers through field visits, performance evaluations, solution recommendations, and post-harvest data analysis. This approach helps ensure that practice changes are sustainable over time. The company also cited a 2025 Purdue University Large Commercial Producer survey indicating that trusted advisors such as retailers and salespeople are the most influential factor in farmer decision-making. Farmers reportedly value relationships with these individuals more than their relationship with the companies they represent.
The statement further notes that high-quality sustainability reporting depends on accurate primary on-farm data. Ag retailers help bridge gaps between growers and corporate programs by collecting, verifying, anonymizing, and aggregating farm data before sharing it downstream—addressing concerns about scrutiny or regulatory burdens associated with detailed reporting requirements.
Mercer Landmark operates as a cooperative owned by farmers according to the official website. The organization maintains more than 20 locations across northwest Ohio—including counties such as Darke, Defiance, Mercer, Paulding, and Van Wert—and employs over 300 people according to the official website. Its services include grain handling, feed supply, agronomy support, energy solutions, and logistics according to the official website.
The company said it bolsters rural communities through investments in facilities and technology aimed at promoting sustainability according to the official website. “Building a sustainable supply chain requires more than ambitious goals—it requires partners who understand the realities of modern farming and can bridge the gap between corporate objectives and on‑farm outcomes,” Mercer Landmark said in its statement.
