Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir has said that farm fatalities are still “stubbornly high”, especially when it comes to older farmers.
The minister made the comments as he addressed the Farm Safety Foundation’s second annual Farm Safety and Wellbeing Conference held in Belfast this week.
The event brought together 120 farming figures from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The conference provided an opportunity for delegates to learn, discuss and share ideas to drive forward attitudes and behaviours around farm safety and mental wellbeing across the industry.
Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation said the event was an opportunity to share thoughts and build on the momentum needed to address these issues.
“Let’s make meaningful strides toward improving the safety and wellbeing of every single one of us in the sector and let’s make our farms safer places to live and to work,” she said.
Farm fatalities
In his keynote address, Minister Muir said that the Farm Safety Foundation and his department have “enjoyed a long history of working together to reduce the incidence of injury and ill health across all our land-based industries”.
“Collectively we are all committed to improving farmer safety and wellbeing, and ultimately to saving the lives of those who work tirelessly to put food on our tables.
“While improved safe working practices within the industry has resulted in a decline in the major accident rate, fatalities remain stubbornly high, particularly among older farmers and each life lost is one too many,” he said.
The minister added that he recognised “the dangers associated with modern farming and also the impacts upon the farm family if a loved one is seriously injured or loses their life”.
He pointed to the roll-out of the new Farm Safety Partnership Action Plan 2024-2027, along with education and prevention to reduce the risk of serious harm or injury to farmers, farm family members, and employees.
“Each and every serious injury and fatality is a profound tragedy bringing devastating consequences to the front door of the farmhouse. I look forward to a day when such heartbreaking news becomes a rarity on our local farms,” he said.
Conference
During the conference, breakout sessions allowed attendees to delve deeper into the key issues and challenges surrounding both physical safety and mental wellbeing.
Bryan Monson, Northern Ireland Farm Safety Partnership and Farm Safety panel chair, led discussions around child safety, older farmer safety, and farmer’s health.
“We need to continue to work together, and find other ways of working together in a more effective way, to get these messages out and make a real difference,” he said.
Kevin Doherty, Rural Support, who chaired the Mind Your Head panel, highlighted: “The issue of mental health in the farming industry, it is a stigma, and it’s a stigma that needs to be recognised.”
The final panel session reflected on the day’s conversations and addressed opportunities for future action.
The panel included Richard Beattie, president of the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster, Francie Gorman, president of Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Elaine Houlihan, president of Macra, William Irvine, president of the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), and Robert Kidd, chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
Francie Gorman told the conference: “We’ve got to be more positive about the industry”.
“Of course we want it to be better, and we want more, but we shouldn’t be doing it on the back of running down what is a great industry.”
In closing the conference, Stephanie Berkeley reflected on the strides that have been made and the work still left to do.
“These are not easy conversations, but they are necessary ones. And today, we’ve proven that we are ready to have them.
“Despite the tough realities we face, I genuinely believe a more optimistic and opportunistic attitude is taking root across the farming community,” she said.
