A new database to link farms where the farmer or employee is ill with COVID-19 with an available relief worker is now up and running.

The joint Teagasc and Farm Relief Services (FRS) initiative is targeted at farms where there is little or no backup if the farmer is unable to carry out routine work.

“On some farms there’s a lot of labour with family members at home. Equally, there are farms where it is just the main operator and their partner has no involvement,” said Teagasc Cork west regional manager Tom Curran. “Their fear is if they get sick or are hospitalised then there will be no one there to look after the farm.”

The database is aimed at filling that gap. Potential workers are asked to contact Teagasc and their details are passed to FRS, which will provide training if needed and match relief workers to farms.

Curran said: “If we are contacted by a farm family in trouble, we’ll do an assessment of critical jobs, what needs to be done here and now and what can be deferred. We’ll also help make a list of key contacts like the vet, contractor etc.”

Beyond the need for emergency relief workers, demand for farm labour is steady on previous years.

FRS CEO Peter Byrne said location is critical. “Sometimes we have lots of operators but they’re not based where people are looking for them. The database could be significant in solving that,” he said.

The initiative has been welcomed by the IFA and ICMSA.