A Time When WiFi Became as Important as Wellies

During COVID, marts were shut down and farmers’ stress levels shot up. Mart managers didn’t know what to do or where to start.

But amongst the few good things that came out of COVID, online bidding was one of them. Platforms like MartEye, LSL, and Martbids brought a bit of joy back to households across Ireland and the UK.

At first, many farmers were reluctant. It was a big change from the usual routine. With marts closed, they feared missing their weekly days out — the cuppa, the chats, the connection. But once the idea of online bidding settled in, it actually became the very thing that helped some farmers embrace technology in agriculture for the first time.

Family members were sent out with one job: come back with a device that could stream the mart. And that sparked something special. It brought generations together — sons showing fathers how to use a tablet, grandkids setting up livestreams for grandparents. Before long, watching the mart became part of the daily routine.

Some families are still in shock to see their grandparents — and even great-grandparents — confidently tapping away on tablets, watching lots sell from their living rooms.

When restrictions lifted and life moved on, many wondered whether online bidding would fade. But it didn’t — it kept growing.

Now, farmers can buy and sell stock even while working. The sly buyer can stand quietly in the ring and bid through the app. Dealers don’t have to worry about what they’ll miss while off collecting dockets.

Farmers can sit in the canteen, enjoy a fry, and watch the ring live — knowing exactly when to walk in and buy the right stock. Or, they might not need to leave the canteen at all.