Farmers reveal the safety challenge

Many farmers cannot afford to farm safely, according to contributors to the recent Seanad Public Consultation Committee Debate on farm safety.

The impetus towards cheap food has cost farmers’ lives, said Westmeath County Councillor John Dolan in his submission to the Senate committee.

The Athlone dairy farmer said, “Unfortunately, many farms are not very profitable, so the amount of income and cash available to invest in different measures may not be great.”