A new farm safety campaign has been launched in Northern Ireland, urging older farmers to recognise the risks on their farms.

The 'Farm Wiser to Farm Longer' campaign, which is led by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), calls on older farmers to take practical steps to protect themselves.

Alongside the HSENI, the campaign is also being led by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Farm Safety Partnership.

The initiative is intended to encourage older farmers to adapt how they work to reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

Funded by DAERA, the campaign and will run until the end of November, with television and radio advertising, as well as on social media and at livestock marts.

These ads will call on older farmers to recognise risks and adapt working practices, which will allow those farmers to "protect themselves and continue farming for longer".

The campaign will focus on three key areas, namely farm vehicles and machinery; working with livestock; and working at heights.

Between 2014 and 2026, 46 older farmers died on farm-related accidents in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the new campaign, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir said: "Our farming community is built on years of experience, commitment and hard work.

"However, older farmers face particular risks, and the consequences of a serious injury can be devastating, not only for the individual but for their family and the future of the farm," Minister Muir added.

"Tasks that have been carried out routinely for decades can present increased risks as balance, strength and reaction times change. And our message is very simple: farm wiser to stay in farming for longer," the minister said.

HSENI

Deputy chief executive of the HSENI, Bryan Monson said: "Farming is more than a job for many older farmers; it is a way of life.

"But it is also a physically demanding and unpredictable working environment, where familiarity with everyday tasks can sometimes lead to risks being underestimated," Monson added.

He stressed that, as people age, changes in balance, strength and reaction times can make activities involving machinery, vehicles, livestock and working at heights more hazardous.

"We are encouraging farmers to pause before undertaking potentially dangerous tasks and ask themselves two simple questions: ‘Am I putting myself at risk?’ and ‘What can I change to make this safer?" Monson said.

"Small changes to how a job is approached can make a significant difference and help farmers protect their health and livelihoods," the HSENI deputy chief executive added.