Manitoba Pool Elevators and the province’s largest cellular phone company have joined forces to create a seasonal cellular phone service with farmers in mind.
The plan is the first of its kind in Canada and was expected to be available to the pool’s 16,000 farmer members starting the first week in November.
“Let’s face it. For farmers during harvest, time is money,” said pool spokesperson Brian Phillips.
“The more time you can put into getting the job done and the less worrying you have in co-ordinating those activities, the better off you are.”
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Keeping in touch
Mobile communication allows farmers to call for parts if equipment breaks down, talk to family at home, keep in touch with the elevator, call for weather reports and get help immediately in an emergency.
The plan is geared to fit in with the farmers’ business cycle by offering free air time at a lower monthly rate, $49.95, when farmers need it most, from the beginning of April to the end of October. The plan permits free calls during the busy period up to 50 minutes each month in peak times and 200 minutes in evenings and on weekends.
In November, during farmers’ slow season, the cost drops to $14.95 per month with no free calls.
There is also a high-volume seasonal package available for $149.95 per month that allows more free minutes.
