Farmers’ insurance claims after storms amount to €27m says FBD

Farm buildings and other properties were damaged while thousands of rural homes were left without power and more than 7m trees were uprooted earlier this year.
FBD company secretary Conor Gouldson, speaking in Bantry, Co Cork, said the group took care of the storm claims of more than 7,000 farmers at a cost of over €27m. He told young farmers that FBD looks forward to working with them through their long and successful careers.
“We look forward to bringing you peace of mind and freeing you up to bring your many skills and your vision to bear on your farms rather than worrying about insurance”, he said.
Mr Gouldson was presenting the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Award, run by Macra na Feirme in partnership with the IFA, to Seán O’Donnell, a 33-year-old dairy farmer from Ballybeg, Ballina, Co Mayo.
Highlighting concerns about farm safety, Mr Gouldson said the former president, Mary McAleese, once referred to the issue poignantly and correctly when she stated; “You can not farm with a broken heart.”
He urged farmers to take their time and plan their day, avoid taking shortcuts, not to by-pass safety devices on machinery, and take particular care with children on their farms.