In order to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has called on agricultural contractors to adhere to strict measures that have been put in place by the UK government.

It is vital that agricultural contractors are taking all precautions on-farm as well as off-farm, to support these efforts, the UFU has said.

Agricultural contractors can be defined as ‘key workers’ and are exempt from staying at home due to their line of work.

UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said: “With a change in the weather and spring tasks such as the planting of crops, spreading of slurry and fertiliser needing to be done, it is vital that agricultural contractors adhere to the Public Health Agency guidelines to minimise the spread of COVID-19."

Measures

The UFU is asking agricultural contractors to adhere to the following measures, when carrying out essential work on farms:

  • Disinfect the interior of your tractor/machine cab daily.
  • Disinfect the door handles of the tractor/machine daily.
  • Do not carry passengers.
  • Wear disposable gloves when opening and closing gates.
  • Practise social distancing, and remain a minimum of 2m from others.
  • No hand contact with others, ie. shaking of hands.

  • If in doubt use the telephone to check instructions.
  • Wear disposable overalls and change these daily.

    • Responsibility

    “We’re enduring the biggest health challenge of our generation. We each have a responsibility to protect ourselves from COVID-19," added Chestnutt.

    “These guidelines will help to ensure the safety of our agricultural contractors when they are conducting essential tasks on farms across Northern Ireland. I would sincerely urge all our contractors to take the time to not only familiarise themselves with these measures but to ensure that they are fully implemented and followed not only by themselves but also their employees.”

    Silage season

    Regarding silage season, Chestnutt said: “With restrictions introduced by the government in response to COVID-19 set to continue, farmers may wish to ensure that silage ground is subject to rolling during the spring months.

    “Doing this will help to reduce the likelihood of machinery breaking down during silage season. A breakdown during silage season may prove extremely detrimental during 2020 due to the added challenges in trying to source and obtain machinery parts.”