Farm Family Reports
Farm Family Council Report March 2025
- Activity since last National Council
- There have been 3 farm fatalities officially recorded by HSA to date. To keep up to date on farm fatalities click here.
- As Spring calving season and slurry season is in full swing, IFA created a Farm Safety Focus poster to emphasise the importance of being safety conscious around this time (see enclosed).
- IFA, CROÍ and the Department of Agriculture presented the findings of the pilot Health Check Initiative which took place in Autumn 2024.
- Minister for State at the Dept of Agriculture Michael Healy-Rae officially launched the report at the Cillín Hill mart in Kilkenny, which was one of the locations that offered free health checks to farmers.
- IFA received €210,871 funding from this initiative to carry out Free Farmer Health Checks nationwide.
- The topline outcomes show that the pilot initiative exceeded it’s targets and identified that demand exists for a wider rollout of the service to rural communities.
- Delivered over 1,200 health checks in 16 locations, exceeding the target by 22%
- Nearly 50% of participants presented with elevated blood pressure or cholesterol levels
- Farmers valued opportunities to discuss mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety and depression
- Farmers appreciated the convenience and accessibility of on-site health checks and related services.
- Please visit www.ifa.ie for the full health check report.
- IFA Farm Family attended the Farm Safety Partnership Committee meeting
- IFA has submitted a proposal to the department on generational renewal in farming, highlighting the urgent need to support young/old farmers entering & exiting the industry.
- The submission emphasizes key challenges such as access to land, financial support, and the burden of regulatory requirements, which often discourage younger generations from taking up farming.
- IFA argues that targeted policies, including enhanced tax incentives, grant schemes, and succession planning supports, are essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
- IFA have met with Pieta House to discuss a farmer resilience programme. The programme aims to reduce stigma around mental health in farming communities and ensure that farmers receive the necessary support to maintain both their personal well-being and their livelihoods.
- The services listed below have experience in helping people deal with stress and other mental health problems.
- Your local GP
- Embrace Farm: 085 770 9966
- Your Mental Health: 1800 111 888
- Pieta House: 1800 247 247
- Samaritans: 116 123
- FBD Counselling Support line: 1800 67 407
- The services listed below have experience in helping people deal with stress and other mental health problems.
- IFA issued a press release on the impacts Storm Eowyn had on farm families.
- IFA issued a press release on prioritising safety when repairing storm damage.
- IFA attended the ASA/Macra International Women’s Day event in Naas Co. Kildare.
- IFA attended the launch of the HER-SELF Report – a study led by Maynooth University and funded by the Department of Agriculture, identifying the barriers women face and recommending policy change to tackle them.
- Any EU/COPA developments
- IFA Farm Family attended ‘Women Step Into Farming’ event organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
- IFA attended an online SafeHabitus Seminar on the role of social security in supporting farm safety and farmer health.
- IFA took part in a Generational Renewal set up by The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)
- The study, entitled “Assessment of generational renewal strategies across EU Member States”, aims to:
- analyse trends and barriers to generational renewal in agriculture across all 27 EU Member States,
- map both EU and national policy instruments supporting generational renewal
- identify successful approaches that could be replicated across different Member States.
- The study, entitled “Assessment of generational renewal strategies across EU Member States”, aims to:
- IFA attended FLIARA Community of Practice event in Italy. Teresa Roche highlighted that Women across Europe are facing issues with access to finance at the event.
- Upcoming issues
- IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs Committee will meet on the 4th of June in the Farm Centre.
