Bad start to year - Another farm tragedy

IT is tragic that the first farm death of 2015 has been recorded so very early in the year. It is doubly so because the victim, Kilkenny man Johnny Ryan, was an ardent advocate of working in safety on the farm.

That farm leaders have suggested that the growing death toll among farmers — 30 died in accidents last year — is a symptom of the ever-increasing pressure on farmers to produce more with less and all for lower rewards must get the most serious consideration. One farm leader suggested that because of economic difficulties, machinery, especially tractors, is not maintained as it should be, thereby threatening safety standards.

There is no suggestion that this was a factor in Mr Ryan’s death, but any industry or society that puts people in that position has serious questions to answer.

If this trend is to be reversed, and it must be, then a huge cultural change seems necessary. But how one of the most independently minded sections of society can be convinced they need to change their ways seems more than challenging.