Actuaries come to the conclusion that farming is increasingly hazardous to health

SO much has been said about stress levels in farming, the pressure of work, the impact of busy seasons and the many other difficulties of farming life that the actuaries who determine risk factors for insurance cover have now given farmers a poor health rating.

That's why permanent health insurance for those who work on the land now costs top dollar, with premiums in the highest category.

But farmers should not lose heart pardon the pun. At least, they are a step up from firemen, gardaí, court bailiffs, and lorry drivers, all of which would get turned down for permanent health insurance by the company which gave farmers such a high rating.