IFA make major push towards farm safety across Wexford
FOLLOWING a number of high profile farming deaths throughout county Wexford in the past couple of years, Wexford IFA are hoping to encourage farmer’s locally to really get behind Farm Safety Week which started yesterday (Monday). Members of the IFA had a strong presence at the annual Bannow-Rathangan show on Thursday and used the occasion to try and spread the word and encourage farmers to be safe and take all precautions possible.
Chairperson of Wexford IFA’s Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee, Alice Doyle, says that a number of local companies are getting behind Farm Safety Week this year and are offering discounts on various pieces of safety equipment. Discounts of up to 30% are being offered and among the companies pledging support are Glanbia, Cooney-Furlong, Gardiner Grain, Kehoe Bros, Donohoe Agri and Enniscor- thy Motor Company.
‘We’re putting a big focus on older farmers in particular,’ said Alice. ‘ The age profile of farmers is rising and a high percentage of fatalities would be in the higher age bracket unfortunately.’
Another aspect that the IFA will be focusing on is the use of quads, which sadly have claimed lives of farmers in Wexford in the not to distant past.
Speaking on farm safety as a whole, IFA President Joe Healy said: ‘ The statistics are stark, but the don’t tell the whole story - they don’t tell you about the devastating impact a farm fatality has on families and communities; they don’t tell you the impact a farm accident can have on the rest of your life, on your ability to run the farm.’
Farmers are encouraged to avail of a new farmer-to-farmer peer learning initiative being rolled out this year and more details can be found at www.ifa.ie/farm-safety.