FARMERS COULD soon be receiving price information from their
local market by mobile phone, thanks to a new service being
launched by the Meat and Livestock Commission.
Once the service is launched on July 18, subscribers will have
the data relayed to them via text message for each of the local
livestock markets they have signed up for.
Joanne Knowles, senior manager at MLC economics, said farmers
could opt for regional information, or prices from individual
markets.
“We think it is an ideal additional way of communicating with
people and giving them information that’s easy to use and direct to
them,” she said.
“It is a good opportunity to launch at this time of year because
the sheep sales are bringing lambs onto the market.
“The service makes it easy to see what light or middle lambs,
for example, are doing and decide whether to sell or hold on for
another week.”
A similar scheme launched at Welshpool market by technology
partner GloverSure Ltd was deemed a success and has at least 30
subscribers, said Mrs Knowles.
Each text message would be charged at 50p, she said, adding that
the service should pay for itself.
The data will become available once the MLC has received and
collated price information from livestock markets.
Most prices will be texted through by the end of the day, she
said, but some will have to wait until midday the following
day.
To subscribe, farmers will have to text a keyword identifying
the data they want to 83070.