App allows farmers to do work by phone

Farmers will be phoning home more often, thanks to the latest mobile and smart phone applications which help them tackle day-to-day tasks.

One of the apps allows farmers to switch on and off by text equipment such as electric fences, or water pumps and heaters, or lighting.

Costing €180 plus Vat, it won the new innovation award for Co Tipperary manufacturer Suirway Automation, at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet.