Today marks the start of the fifth annual Farm Safety Week in UK and Ireland.
An initiative led by the IFA in Ireland is aims to reduce the number of accidents on farms that continue to give farming the poorest safety record of any occupation in the country.
Farm Safety Week is supported by a number of agencies, including the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and members of the Farm Safety Partnership.
Farmers will be encouraged to take some time during the week to assess the safety of routine tasks.
The campaign will focus on a different risk each day, including machinery and transport, falls, livestock and slurry, and child safety on farms.
Farming continues to have one of the poorest safety records of any sector in Ireland.
Last year 21 people lost their lives in farm accidents and 14 people have lost their lives so far in 2017.
There are real concerns that if the number of farm deaths continue at the rate they have so far this year, the number of deaths in 2017 could be as bad as 2014 when 30 people died on Irish farms.
Staying with the theme of farm safety and motorists are being urged to look out for extra tractors and farm machinery on the roads.
The appeal by the Road Safety Authority and the Irish Farmers Association comes in the middle of the silage cutting season.
Farmers are also urged not to carry a passenger on their tractors unless they’re equipped to carry one.
President of the IFA Joe Healy has this message:
