_The Rural Bulletin: 10th January, 2019
Andrew Shirley, Head of Rural Research, comments
Brexit is many things, but it’s not life or death. The same can’t be said about health and safety. Legislation to make workplaces safer is often lampooned as nanny-statism, but too many people lose their lives working on farms and estates in the UK. If anybody yet to make their New Year’s resolutions wants to make just one, make it to stay safe in 2019.
Farm Safety Partnership launches #DriveSafelyForward campaign
The Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) has launched its 2019 safety campaign aimed at halving farm fatalities by the end of 2023. The campaign will focus on key areas including transport, machinery, handling livestock, child safety and working at height.
NFU vice president and chairman of FSP, Stuart Roberts said: “We are all aware that agriculture has a terrible track record when it comes to health and safety in the workplace, and the FSP is working with the industry to reverse this.”
The first quarter of 2019 will promote ways for farmers to stay safe when in transport through the hashtag #DriveSafelyForward.
CLA and TFA unite to prevent ‘no-deal’ Brexit
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) have joined together to warn MPs of the dangers posed by a ‘no-deal’ Brexit for both landowners and tenants in England and Wales.
CLA president Tim Breitmeyer said: “Avoiding the uncertainty and catastrophic effects of a no deal Brexit is critical for both landlords and tenants as well as the wider rural economy. Leaving the EU without an agreement firmly in place is likely to have disastrous long-term consequences for the nation’s countryside and its rural communities.”
TFA chief executive George Dunn added: “The sustainability of the landlord tenant system in agriculture depends on ensuring the long-term profitability of the sector.”
The four main farming unions, NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and the Ulters Farmers Union have also written a joint letter to MPs urging them to take every measure to avoid a ‘no-deal’. The letter stated that as ‘no deal’ could threaten the safety, choice and affordability of food while also severely impacting farm business and the fragile rural economy.
CCTV compulsory in Scottish abattoirs
The Scottish government has introduced new legislation meaning all abattoirs in Scotland will need to install CCTV cameras where livestock is present, reported Farmers Weekly.
The footage will be monitored by official veterinarians to complement their welfare monitoring and to identify any breaches in regulation.
Though 80% of Scottish abattoirs already have CCTV, NFU Scotland president, Andrew McCornick expressed concerns that smaller businesses may struggle to afford it. “Smaller abattoirs…often suffer from small profit margins and could struggle to implement the mandatory changes off their own backs. NFUS will be looking for these abattoirs to receive some sort of assistance to comply with these new regulations.”
Prince’s Countryside Fund re-opens its bursary
Rural projects are being encouraged to apply for a bursary of up to £50,000 run by the Prince’s Countryside Fund, reported Farmers Guardian.
The funding can be used to deliver services that keep isolated communities together, develop more sustainable farm businesses to halt declining rural economies and to help support rural businesses and communities to plan and recover from natural disasters.
Claire Saunders, director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “Our grants help to support a diverse range of projects often delivered by local organisations, such as training vouchers for young farmers, equipment for local abattoirs, overheads and staffing costs for farmer-led networks, village shops and pubs, and development schemes for rural businesses.
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