Farm Safe Farm Well

In the final instalment of the Farm Safe, Farm Well series, we examine the supports available to farm families impacted by serious injury or sudden death.For over a decade, Embrace FARM has provided practical and emotional support to farm families across Ireland who are faced with serious injury or sudden death.The non-profit organisation was founded by Brian and Norma Rohan who live and farm close to Mountrath in Co. Laois.The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In the latest instalment of Agriland Media's series, Farm Safe, Farm Well, we meet a farmer who has changed his approach to farm work as he gets older.Padraig Moran runs a beef and tillage enterprise with his son Eoin at Coorevin Farm in Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary.While he has been farming all his life, Padraig has adjusted how he manages his tasks on the farm as his 65th birthday nears."Firstly, I've to be conscious of my age, I'm not getting younger, so I've to approach things an awful lot different than I used to," he said.The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In this instalment of Agriland Media’s series, Farm Safe, Farm Well, we meet a farmer who suffered life-changing injuries 40 years ago after she became entangled in a power take-off (PTO).Almost 40 years since she survived being entangled in a PTO shaft on her farm, Betty Taylor still feels lucky to be alive today.On October 8, 1985, Betty and her husband, Joe, from Ballylooby, Knocklong, Co. Limerick, had brought a load of oats home for their beef cattle.While Betty was crushing some oats, the loose jumper she was wearing got caught in the drive shaft which did not have a cover.The young mother was then violently swung around the drive shaft repeatedly until the it eventually broke.“Only for the PTO eventually broke, I feel I would have been killed,” she said.The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In this instalment of Agriland Media’s series, Farm Safe, Farm Well, we hear from a farmer who survived a bull attack.In 2018, David Callan was operating a suckler enterprise on his 80ac farm at Drumconrath, Co. Meath when was attacked by one of his bulls.During that time, David thought he was going to die and had visions of his own funeral.“I was even afraid to close my eyes in case I’d never opened them,"The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In the fourth part of Agriland Media's series, Farm Safe, Farm Well, we focus on the dangers posed by working at heights on the farm.In 2021, Eddie Downey was working in a shed on his farm close to Slane in Co. Meath when he fell 12ft onto the concrete below.The former president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) shattered his pelvis, badly damaged his bladder and broke a bone in his wrist.Downey was rushed by ambulance to hospital where he underwent several operations over a five-week period, before returning home in a wheelchair.After two weeks, he transitioned to crutches and then began physiotherapy sessions."I was 61 years of age, very fit at the time. You think at that stage you're invincible, it can't happen to you, but the reality here is that it did happen to me."The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Farming can be a demanding and stressful job with numerous challenges including income pressures, high costs, regulations, weather, isolation and long working hours.While farmers are quick to look after their animals, land and machinery, many overlook the most important thing - their own health and wellbeing.On this weeks podcast we speak to brothers David and Michael Kennedy, who run an organic sheep farm Skeheenarinky, Co. Tipperary.In 2010, the brothers' world changed forever after the sudden death of their sister, Sarah, in a car crash.Drawing from their own life experiences and qualifications, the brothers launched their online fitness business, The Lifestyle Blueprint, in 2021.The programme has helped other farmers who want to make healthier choices, get active, have a more positive mindset and build confidence.The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In the second instalment of Agriland Media's series, Farm Safe, Farm Well, we explore the safe use of quad bikes on farms.The use of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) has become increasingly common on farms across Ireland.However, there has been a significant number of farm fatalities and serious injuries involving quads.For many, including Kerry hill sheep farmer John Joe Fitzgerald, a quad is an essential piece of equipment.The vice-president of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) told Agriland about an accident he had with a quad around 12 years ago.The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In the first podcast instalment of Agriland Media's new series, Farm Safe, Farm Well, we discuss how to keep children safe while on the farm.Alma Jordan lives in Julianstown in Co. Meath with her husband Mark and son, Eamon where they run a tillage, cattle and horse enterprise.In response to a spike in farm deaths in 2014, which included five children, Alma wrote a series of story books for children on the theme of farm safety.She also founded AgriKids, a farm safety educational platform specifically for children, which provides tools, resources and learning aids for teachers to use in the classroom.Over the past decade, 80,000 children have engaged with the AgriKids programme.The Farm Safe Farm Well series, produced by Agriland Media in conjunction with AXA Insurance, is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).