Partners in Sheep Connect NSW, Department of Primary Industries and Australian Wool Innovation, are running Social Media and Smartphone Apps for Agriculture workshops to give farmers practical information about popular social media platforms.

Sheep Connect NSW coordinator, Shelly Anderson, said the focus would be on how to effectively use social media and identify the smart phone apps which could be used to support day-to-day business on the farm.

“Social media can be used as a tool to gather information and promote your enterprise in the local, interstate or global community,’’ she said.

“More and more people are using mobile and hand-held technology to run their business and they want quick and easy access to information.

“Farmers can provide that information in places where potential customers are looking, and that’s where social media platforms can deliver.”

Ms Anderson said the immediacy of social media could help farmers promote their products to clients in an affordable, timely manner.

“Farmers can also communicate, give and get advice or share ideas with each other and industry experts through social media.

“These new communication channels can help highlight the role of agriculture and bridge gaps between urban and rural communities.”

Mrs Anderson said the growing number of farmers using smart phones and mobile tablets has seen a great leap in the development of agriculturalbased apps.

“Apps offer farmers the ability to access information in their own time, in any location and can be a great decision-support tool.”

The workshops presented by RaynerAg principal, Alastair Rayner, will be held at the Forbes Services Club from 8.30am until 10.30am and St. Josephs School Library, Eugowra from 2pm until 4pm.

Contact sheep.connect@dpi.nsw.gov.au or (02) 6391 3954 for more information and to register for the Forbes or Eugowra workshop.