The farming industry in the North East is doing its bit in preparation for the arrival of the world’s elite cyclists and the start of the Tour de France next week.
Two tractors have been given a hi-tech makeover to turn them into free WiFi hotspots extending 500 metres in all directions in four of the busiest spots on the route, moving from stage one to stage two overnight.
The project is a collaboration between the NFU, tractor firm Massey Ferguson and satellite broadband company Avonline.
During the first stage, one tractor will be located at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre in Hawes, where 5,000 people are expected to converge. The other will be at the Visitor Centre in Grassington, where staff are expecting around 3,000 people.
For stage two, one tractor will head to the Steel Stage event at High Bradfield near Sheffield and the other will be at Holme village at the foot of the Holme Moss climb.
“As our members know only too well, getting internet access can be a tricky business out in the countryside – it’s something they grapple with every day whether they’re registering online animal movements or simply engaging with the public on Twitter or Facebook,” said NFU regional director Richard Pearson.
“It’s obvious spectators will want to use their phones to access visitor information and post pictures, tweets and so on. As we understand how frustrating a lack of broadband in rural areas can be, we wondered if this was something we could help with.'
Lindsay Haddon from Massey Ferguson said: “We are delighted to be involved in this event. Our tractors will be there to help supply broadband to this rural area, something that many of us take for granted.”
The NFU in the North East has also produced a guide to food and farming to be distributed along the route.
It celebrates the food and landscapes produced by the local farming community and provides key farming facts as well as reminders to respect the countryside.
“Farmers across Yorkshire are gearing up to welcome tens of thousands of people for the Tour, showcasing the fabulous food and scenery for which the county is famous,” added Pearson.
This week’s FPJ celebrates links between fresh produce businesses in the UK and France in a one-off France Special, published in time for the Tour de France, which begins in Leeds next week.
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