Farmers | Coronavirus advice

Farming

3 min read

With Covid-19 officially becoming a pandemic a few days ago, farmers are being urged to take the necessary precautions when interacting with employees, animal feed drivers and milk collectors.

Milk collections and feed deliveries are essential to the day-to-day operations of a farm but with the coronavirus outbreak, we all have to make certain changes to minimise the risk of it spreading further and protect the vulnerable.

Farmers most at risk

Farmers who are over 70 or who have an underlying health condition should look into asking a family friend, neighbour or haulier to do things where social contact is inevitable. Older farmers are advised to remain at home until the situation is under control.

Milk collection and animal feed

Farmers are advised to take on board some of the following:

Avoid unnecessary social contact with drivers.
Ensure drivers have easy access to bulk and feed bins.
Clear signage is put up to help assist new drivers to your farm.
Leave hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities ready for lorry drivers.
If contact is needed – maintain a distance of 2 meters AT ALL TIMES.

Simple safety measures

Above all else, farmers alike should follow the HSE guidelines to help prevent the spread of Covid-19:

Reduce social interaction.
Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.
Wash hands and sanitise frequently throughout the day.
Sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve.
Distance yourself from other people.
If you have a fever, shortness of breath or a persistent cough you should visit the HSE website for more advice on symptoms and isolation.

Marts

Another aspect undergoing change will be livestock marts. As of 23^rd March, a large number across NI have announced the suspension of operations for at least two weeks – with immediate effect.

If you were planning to visit a local mart, it is advised to check their Facebook Page or contact them directly to find out if they are open and if so, how sales will be conducted.

AgriLand have stated that at least 13 marts have issued statements on social media including: