Did you know you are 21 times more likely to have a fatal accident working in agriculture than in any other industry?

The FUW were delighted to support the IOSH North Wales branch event recently, focused on safety in rural industries. The day brought together a range of experts and stakeholders, providing insight into the health and safety challenges within the farming sector.

The reality makes for sobering reading. The period 2023 to 2024 saw 23 people in Great Britain lose their lives in agricultural incidents. While the sector makes up around 1% of the UK’s working population, agriculture still accounts for 17% of all deaths in the workplace. Tragically, the statistics often hide a further tragedy of children killed or injured - with an average of two young children are being killed on UK farms each year.

The cause of such fatalities vary greatly, with falls from height or interactions with livestock accounting for 9% and 13% of fatal injuries by accident type. However, according to the HSE, the leading cause of fatal injuries on farms is moving vehicles - accounting for 39% of fatal injuries in 2023/2024. A further 9% of fatalities were a result of contact with machinery including entanglement in machinery and PTO shafts.

With incidents involving vehicles and machinery therefore accounting for almost 50% of farm fatalities, the FUW is proud to be supporting Wales Farm Safety Partnerships’ latest campaign highlighting the risks associated with working with machinery and vehicles on farms.

Ultimately, fatalities and injuries from vehicles and machinery can be prevented with due care and diligence, and as farmers we all have a responsibility to follow simple steps to safeguard ourselves, our families and employees, and the public.

Before using any vehicles or machinery, farmers should undertake regular checks of breaks and other safety-critical items, such as tyres, mirrors and seatbelts. Maintenance is particularly important when using farm machinery, and it’s important to check all necessary guards are in position and in good order. You should only operate a vehicle or machine if trained and competent to do so.

It’s also important that we remain aware of our surroundings and display due diligence when operating vehicles or machinery. Crucially, always keep people and moving vehicles well apart, never carry passengers, be aware of blind-spots, and always wear your seatbelt.

ATVs are a significant cause of on-farm fatalities, and drivers must wear a suitable and approved ATV helmet, never carry passengers, or take risks on uneven or sloping ground which can lead to overturning.

For more information about how keep yourself and others safe on your farm, visit the Wales Farm Safety website: 

https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/business/health-and-safety 

Hazardous areas on agricultural machines

Many agricultural machines have potentially dangerous moving parts, which can cause serious or fatal injuries. For example:

• balers – pick-ups, twine mechanisms and moving rear doors;
• forage harvesters – chopping cylinders;
• combine harvesters – augers in the grain tank and the header unit;
• potato harvesters – rotating rollers and conveyors;
• slurry tankers – power take-off (PTO) shafts;
• bale and straw choppers – chopping mechanisms;
• tractor – hitch mechanisms, PTOs and PTO shafts;
• power harrows – rotating tines;
• feeder wagons – rotating components in the mixing chamber

Before you start

Before using a machine, consider the following:

• Is the machine you intend to use suitable for the job?
• Are all safety devices such as guards in place and working correctly?
• Are you (or the operator) properly trained to do this job/use this machine?
• Has the instruction manual for the machine been provided, read and understood?
• Is the right personal protective equipment (PPE) available and worn?
• Has a risk assessment been carried out?
• Has the work been properly planned and communicated to those who may be at risk?
• If two or more people are involved, has everyone understood what needs to be done and has a system of communication been agreed on?

Is the machine operator competent to do the job safely?

• Are all operators/workers trained to do this job?

- Workers should not use a machine unless they are properly trained and know how to use it safely. 

- You should also check that any contractors you intend to use are competent to do the job. Don't forget that training is needed by casual or seasonal workers

• Is suitable clothing and footwear available and worn (including any PPE)?

- Safety boots should usually be worn when using machinery and operators should wear clothes that will not snag on machinery or controls.

- Any jewellery (including watches and rings) that might snag should be removed and long hair tied back so it does not get caught up in moving parts.

• Have operators been provided with relevant information?

- The operator should read and understand the instruction manual.

Prominent Carmarthenshire farmer, and Member of Parliament for Caerfyrddin, Ann Davies, has been shortlisted for the Agricultural Ambassador of the Year prize at the National Women in Agriculture Awards 2025.

The annual awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of women making a significant impact in the agricultural industry, with this year’s final set to be held in London in May.

Born and raised in rural Carmarthenshire, Ann’s agricultural journey began in 1992, with her and her husband starting as tenant farmers on a dairy farm near Llanarthne. Alongside her work on the farm, she went on to work as a peripatetic music teacher, and  lecturer in early years learning at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, before becoming the joint owner of a local children’s nursery alongside one of her three daughters.

Ann was elected as a County Councillor on Carmarthenshire County Council in 2017, and was appointed as a cabinet member of the Council in 2021 originally under the portfolio of Communities and Rural Affairs. 

As County Councillor, she became a prominent voice in local campaigns against the development of pylons routes in rural Carmarthenshire. In 2023, she was also appointed Chair of the Carmarthenshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).

She was elected Member of Parliament for the new Caerfyrddin constituency in 2024, and as one of four Plaid Cymru MPs in Westminster, has adopted a wide portfolio including; work and pensions, education, transport, and crucially, environment and rural affairs.

As Member of Parliament, Ann has spoken on a vast number of occasions at Westminster regarding the pressing issues facing the agricultural sector and rural communities, including the UK Government’s controversial changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR), the future of farming, and food security. 

Despite her Parliamentary duties, Ann continues to work on the farm - often out milking in her wellies - whilst her Sunday mornings are spent in chapel, before a Sunday lunch on the farm providing an opportunity to catch-up with her three daughters and many grandchildren.

Commenting on Ann Davies’ nomination, Farmers’ Union of Wales President, Ian Rickman said: “Everyone at the FUW is absolutely delighted with Ann Bremenda’s nomination for this prestigious award.

"For decades, as a farmer, County Councillor and hardworking FUW County Chair, Ann has been an unwavering champion for rural Wales. Since being elected Member of Parliament for Caerfyrddin last year, she has taken this understanding, enthusiasm and dedication towards our rural communities to the heart of Westminster, promoting a range of issues championing our countryside and the agricultural sector. 

"At a challenging time for Welsh farming, having a friend like Ann fighting our corner is invaluable, and we wish her well for the award ceremony.”

In our latest interview celebrating seventy years of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, our Head of Communications, Aled Morgan Hughes interviews Mr Gareth Vaughan, FUW President between 2003 and 2011.

What was the highlight of your time as FUW President?

A significant highlight for me personally was helping secure the Union’s insurance services’ transition towards a broker model. Over previous decades we had been a tied agent, dealing with just one company, which had its restraints. Moving towards a broker model meant we could deal with more than one insurance company.

This transition towards a broker wasn’t always easy - not everyone agreed, but looking back I think it’s been a huge success. It allowed the insurance side of the Union to grow from strength to strength, helping feed the Union’s activities and goals. I also know the transition towards a broker was also welcomed by county officers across Wales, who could offer a wider range of services and prices than was previously the case.

Another highlight was welcoming Prince Charles and Camilla to my farm in Dolfor, Montgomeryshire. He arrived by helicopter, and I was amazed by his interest and appetite for issues involving the countryside. As part of the visit, we had a wide range of FUW members present, as well as local schoolchildren. In particular, I was delighted to have former FUW Presidents H.R.M. Hughes and Myrddin Evans present - I remember Myrddin complaining that it had been a long journey for him, but by the end of the day he was delighted he had come!

I always used to enjoy meeting politicians, too. I was fortunate enough to meet two New Zealand Prime Ministers in my time; one in the Aberystwyth office, and another over lunch in Cardiff before a rugby match, where we discussed the Welsh and New Zealand lamb trade. I was invited to that lunch by the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, and I always saw keeping a good relationship with politicians as a key element of the job. It’s OK to fall out and show our teeth from time to time, but ultimately we’d only lose out in the long-term if we do that too often.

Politicians aside, I always took great pleasure in meeting FUW members too, particularly the older ones - many of them faced a hard time from the NFU in the early years following the Union’s foundation.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as FUW President?

I was very fortunate to avoid many of the huge challenges my predecessor, Bob Parry had endured - particularly the BSE and Foot and Mouth Disease crises.

One of the main challenges from my time as President that stays in my mind was the loss of the Tir Mynydd payments. Previously the scheme saw upland farmers receive a payment to help manage Less Favoured Areas. The scrapping of the scheme came as a huge blow for many farmers - causing very strong feelings within the sector.

Younger members of the Union were particularly prominent in the campaign to reinstate these payments - I remember a gang from Meirionnydd going down to Cardiff to protest. Ultimately, our efforts were unsuccessful, but I do think it provided an opportunity for the Union to display our voice and strength of feeling.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest challenge facing the farming sector today?

I have been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit over the years, and the challenges facing farmers are the same across the whole wide world - politicians, the weather, and finances.
Currently, the UK Government’s changes to the inheritance tax is clearly a worry for many in the industry, and it’s so vitally important farmers think about succession planning.

As someone who spent a lot of time lobbying in Brussels, I do feel leaving the European Union was a huge mistake. This has done untold harm to the farming sector in Wales, and I do feel we won’t see any real benefit until we revisit our relationship with the EU - although it’s unlikely we’ll return as full members now.

Despite the challenges, I do remain quite optimistic about the future of the farming sector - and have been criticised in the past for being too positive! Ultimately, humans will need good, quality food for as long as they’re on the planet, and here in Wales we do produce the very best food and produce.

Why is the FUW important?

The FUW is critically important. Having more than one farming union here in Wales allows us not only to keep a close eye on each other and the sector’s needs, but it also ensures fresh ideas too. No union has a monopoly on good ideas, and having two unions representing the sector here in Wales certainly strengthens Welsh farming’s hand.

I think it’s also important to remember that whilst traditionally FUW may have represented smaller farms, we’re now a voice for the larger Welsh farms too - and indeed a number of large farms playing a prominent and important role in the Union.