The big challenges for farmers when it comes to farm safety are time and money, recent research from Pennsylvania State University has found.

A seminar exploring this research and why high rates of farm injuries persist despite decades of research and safety awareness campaigns will be hosted by Teagasc on Wednesday 17 December.

Professor Florence Becot of Pennsylvania State University will discuss what has been termed the 'farm risk-farm safety paradox' - the disconnect between farmers' awareness, beliefs and practices surrounding risks.

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Her needs assessment, involving surveys of farmers and workshops with advisers, found that farmers understand the dangers, but face structural barriers to implementing safety measures.

“We know from talking to farmers that the big challenge for them is time and money. If we can find ways to support them - for example, through grants or programmes that ease the purchase of equipment and technologies to remove known risks like deaths from tractor rollovers - this would be an important step forward," she said.

Farm safety remains a critical concern on both sides of the Atlantic, Teagasc warned.

In Pennsylvania, the five-year fatality rate among farmers stands at 57 per 100,000 (2020-2024), compared with 10 per 100,000 in Ireland (2014-2016).

Complacency

While Ireland's rate is lower, Dr David Meredith of Teagasc cautions against complacency: "The number of fatalities so far this year exceeds the figures for the last few years."

The lower rate of fatalities in Ireland reflects a range of differences between Ireland and Pennsylvania, Dr Meredith said.

"There are substantial differences in the age of tractors and equipment, and cultural differences too - for instance, the Amish community in Pennsylvania frequently do not use the latest technologies.

"In Ireland, the Department of Agriculture dedicate[s] substantial resources to supporting improvements on farms. Meanwhile, the farm work site in the two countries is equally complex and most farms are operated by families,” Dr Meredith said.

Despite the differences between the two countries, Professor Becot notes strong similarities in farm safety challenges linked to the family farming nature of food production.

"We see similar types of injuries and fatalities impacting farmers. Economic pressures mean there are similarities in farmers' ability to purchase newer and safer equipment that could improve their health and safety,” Professor Becot said.