Macra briefing meetings to raise safety issues with young farmers

By Ray Ryan

Saturday, March 06, 2010

MACRA na Feirme announced yesterday that it is to hold a series of briefing meetings of young farmer groups with a strong farm safety theme.

The briefings will be held in Mitchelstown (March 11), Abbeyleix (March 18) and Carrick on Shannon (March 24).

Macra agricultural affairs committee chairman Kieran McEvoy said farm safety has to be a key priority for all farmers, especially in the busy springtime period.

He said he was alarmed to hear that the number of farm fatalities had increased dramatically in 2010. Already there have been eight fatalities on Irish farms this year, which represents over half of the 2009 total.

"We need the combined efforts of farm organisations and the media to highlight the need to improve farm safety and reverse the alarming trend of increased farm fatalities to all farmers across the country," he said.

Mr McEvoy said the workload of farmers is increasing, yet safety cannot be forgotten.

As well as the briefing meetings, Macra will highlight the issue of farm safety at its young farmer meetings and farm walks.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, March 06, 2010