Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has announced the reopening of the National Farm Safety Measure for 2026.

The National Farm Safety Measure 2026 will provide a financial contribution to participating farmers covering 60% of the eligible cost for up to four power take-off (PTO) shaft covers.

Over the past decade, farm vehicles and machinery accounted for almost half of all fatalities on farms. In the last two years, entanglement in PTO shafts has resulted in two fatalities on Irish farms.

PTO shafts revolve at 540 or 1,000 revolutions per minute, and it takes less than one second to become entangled in a PTO shaft.

If caught in a revolving PTO shaft, a person has almost no chance of avoiding serious or fatal injuries. Even a new PTO shaft cover, if not properly fitted, will not provide protection.

The Farm Safety Measure is being funded from the national exchequer. The closing date for the submission of applications for payment is Friday, November 6, with applications to be made via the AgFood online portal.

The maximum amount of aid under the measure is for four PTO shaft covers. The grant aid will be at a rate of 60% subject to a maximum eligible cost of €100 per PTO shaft cover.

Farmers who applied for grant aid under the National Farm Safety Measure in previous years remain eligible to apply again this year.

Opening the measure today, coinciding with Tractor Safety Week, Minister Heydon said: "I am reopening the National Farm Safety Measure to incentivise farmers to check the protective guards on PTO powered machinery and replace defective or missing PTO-shaft covers.

"Too many farmers are operating PTO-powered equipment with PTO shafts which are not adequately protected, placing themselves and others at risk of serious or fatal injuries.

"This also includes the U-guard at the tractor end and the O-guard on the machine," the minister said.

Minister Heydon also reminded farmers of the importance of prioritising safety no matter how heavy the workload.

"The key steps to preventing incidents involving farm vehicles and machinery are training, proper maintenance and safe work practices," he said.

"These key steps take time, but the rewards, though often unseen are immeasurable. If overlooked however, the consequences can be tragic," the minister added.

As farmers enter the busy summer period, Minister Heydon urged farmers to check tractors and machinery now to ensure that all necessary maintenance and repairs are carried out, including the replacement of damaged or missing PTO-shaft covers.