Motorists are urged to be extra vigilant on rural roads during the current busy period for farms.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said many farmyards will be a "hive of activity" with contractors and farmers under pressure to harvest silage as quickly as possible.

ICMSA's farm business committee chair, Pat O'Brien said it is "crucial that both farmers and contractors ensure all work is carried out in a safe environment and at no time should safety standards be relaxed".

"At the same time, we’d appeal to all other road users - and most particularly, visitors to farming areas - to be aware of the dangers of increased agricultural traffic on rural roads and the need to slow down and 'expect the unexpected' around the next corner."

Silage safety

O'Brien said there must a concentration on ensuring that "silage safety" is built into the way farmers work over the next few weeks.

"We have to force ourselves to take our time and consciously minimise any chances of an accident or mishap," the farm business chair said.

"Remember: it’s a lot better to lose a minute in your life than lose your life in a minute."

Farm safety

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has urged farmers to prioritise safety around tractors and machinery.

The minister has added his support to Tractor Safety Week which takes place this week.

The initiative is a collaborative campaign run by the Health and Safety Authority's (HSA’s) Farm Safety Partnership.

Tractors remain central to farm work but continue to be associated with serious and fatal incidents, according to the HSA.

In the last 10 years, 38 fatalities involving tractors on farms were recorded, while vehicle-related incidents remain the leading cause of work-related fatalities in the agriculture sector.