Quality Meat Scotland Launches Free App for Farmers

A free new mobile phone app has been launched today by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to ensure farmers have easy access to the latest industry news and market prices at the touch of a button.

The easy-to-use QMS app is now live on iTunes and Google Play and is available to download for android and iPhones and iPads.

The app – believed to be an industry first – also includes the PGI Status Checker function which is a simple way to check the current assurance status of farms.

Among the first to download the app was Perthshire farmer, Robert McOuat (39), who runs 550 Texel and Scotch Mule ewes and 60 suckler cows at Fornought Farm near Crieff.

Mr McOuat’s farm runs to 600 feet above sea level and he said he finds the new app very easy to use on his mobile, describing it as a great way to stay up to date with news and market prices while away from the computer.

Stuart Ashworth, Head of Economics Services with QMS, said the development of the new app added a great new tool to the communications mix.

“More and more farmers are seeing the benefits of new technology to give them 24-7 access to the most up-to-date information and the development of our new app aims to increase the range of options already available,” Mr Ashworth said.

“Given the long hours worked and the remoteness of farm locations a mobile phone is absolutely essential. This app offers those in our industry a welcome new e.communications tool– whether for checking assurance status at a store sale or drawing stock in handling pens,” he added.

The app can be found in the iTunes store and Google Play by searching for “Quality Meat Scotland”.

QMS recently launched a Facebook page and also issues a weekly enewsletter to more than 4000 subscribers. To sign up for the free weekly newsletters visit www.qmscotland.co.uk.

Caption: Perthshire farmer Robert McOuat pictured with his sheepdog Meg at Fornought where he has been testing the new app.