Tyrone trio form ‘phone frontline’ of Bovine Genetics Programme

To meet this ever-increasing need, Sustainable Ruminant Genetics (SRG), has set up a dedicated customer support or ‘frontline service’ to help farmers navigate the registration process and ensure they benefit from the groundbreaking scheme that aims to improve herd performance, drive profitability and deliver sustainability.

Already the customer support service has exceeded all expectations, and with up to 150 calls coming in on a weekly basis, three dedicated advisors from County Tyrone have become recognised as the ‘phone frontline’ of the Bovine Genetics Programme.

Martina Gormley, Teresa O’Neill and Shauna Conlon are the welcoming voices behind the service. Together they act as the first point of contact for the thousands of beef and dairy farmers who are keen to get on board and be part of the £67million government-funded scheme.

The surge in calls since the scheme started on the 1 September has meant Martina, Teresa and Shauna have had to quickly get up to speed with the BGP. Their goal is to steer farmers through the registration process so they are set up to maximise the business benefits the scheme will deliver.

Both Teresa and Shauna are from farming backgrounds and know the agricultural industry well, while Martina has amassed years of customer service experience. Collectively they are used to dealing with all sorts of callers and questions.

Teresa said: "As the first point of contact on BGP, our role is to help those who need advice or support on registration and address any initial queries. While farmers are generally clear on the benefits to be gained by being part of the scheme, some simply need a helping hand, particularly if they are not confident with the online process.

“We aim to make it as straightforward as possible, answering questions and offering practical guidance.

"You certainly never know what the next phone call will bring. Some farmers are straight to the point, while others prefer a bit of a chat which could be anything from the weather or their families, before we actually get round to discussing SRG and the registration process. But we do our best to give everyone a bit of our time."

Martina added: "We speak to farmers from right across Northern Ireland and one thing that comes across consistently is that people want clear, practical information. That's exactly what we're here to provide.

"We've had callers who say they were putting off registering because they thought the process would be overly complicated or detailed. Often, after a quick conversation, they realise it's much more straightforward than they expected.

"However we're not bovine genetics experts, and we don't pretend to be. Our job is to help farmers understand and complete the application process and, where necessary, point them to the specialist advice available from the experienced team at SRG."

Backed by a range of partners including the UFU, LMC, NIMEA and the Dairy Council, awareness and understanding of the BGP has increased significantly over the last few weeks.

This is reflected in growing demand for advice from the customer support service, which is facilitated by Camowen Farmers Combined, Omagh Co Tyrone.

Shauna added: “Farmers fully recognise the opportunities the BGP presents for their businesses, and we're pleased to help them take that first step.

"Our service is designed to support farmers over the telephone, allowing us to respond quickly to calls from across the region and help as many people as possible. Whether you're calling from the yard, the tractor or the kitchen table with a cup of tea, we're only a call away."

Urging others to make the most of the ‘phone frontline’ Shauna added: "If you want to join the scheme but haven’t made the first step, we'd encourage you to get in touch. There are no silly questions, and we're here to help guide you through the process."

Farmers can register directly for the Bovine Genetics Project and opt in to the Genotyping Scheme via www.srgni.com or contact the team at Camowen Farmers Combinedon 028 2046 2280