Ploughing Championships 2015: President warns of dangers posed by new farm technology

New technology and modern farming practices bring new dangers, President Michael D Higgins has warned, highlighting the need to make farms safer.

Róisín Flynn and Chantelle O’Dwyer from Tipperary having fun in the mud at the first day of the ploughing

Pointing out that farms are first and foremost places of work, he said increasingly sophisticated work methods can create a growing pressure to complete tasks quickly.

“This means that our farmyards have changed rapidly and now carry myriad risks. This, combined with the inherent unpredictability of agricultural work, calls for a greater than ever need for safety awareness on farms.”