Is supply management a life saver?
Maybe, judging by a story out of Ireland.
Farm groups in Ireland have warned the scrapping of milk
quotas could result in an increase in farm deaths in 2015, following an 80 per
cent increase in deaths last year, reports Business Farming.
The publication interviewed Brian Rohan, founder of
Embrace Farm, who said dairy farmers will try to increase production when the
quotas end and that will increase stress levels for workers.
The result will be less attention to safety and an increase
in accidents and deaths, he speculates.
Embrace Farm was set up about a year ago to offer
support and advice to widows, children, siblings and other family members who
can be left “totally exposed” when the main income earner dies.
Farming is the most dangerous job in Ireland. There were
30 deaths last year; the toll was 16 in 2013.
Dropping quotas and aiming for increased production will
"increase workload and that might result in longer hours or contractors
having more farms to go to.
"That will bring pressure and there's potential
there for greater risk," said Rohan.
"We would call on farmers to be even more
farm-safety conscious this year.
“If you're going at a job, all it takes is one minute to
consider the dangers and what could happen," he added.
Initially the group was formed to hold memorial services
for loved ones lost in farm accidents.
Frankly, I think the link between milk quotas and farm safety is nonsense. But, then again, anything to promote farm safety is a good thing.
