Young Farmers from across Devon have been learning important lessons about safety with an on-farm presentation from rural insurer NFU Mutual.

Figures from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) show the South West accounted for more than a quarter of fatal injuries in Great Britain in 2021/22, the highest of any region, with 6 out of the 22 deaths registered in the industry.

Megan Broom, who has been a member of Honiton Young Farmers Club for 10 years and is now the AGRI Chair for Devon YFC, organised the event at Crealy Farms, near Budleigh Salterton on Wednesday 29th March.

She is part of the Federation’s agri-business programme which is offering members the opportunity to learn more about running a farming business, including practical support from accountants, consultants and surveyors.

“We’ve had lots of great sessions over the winter, but farm safety wasn’t something we had covered. That’s why we invited NFU Mutual to our farm visit to give us a practical insight into the dangers of farming and, more importantly, how to avoid incidents.”

Megan says she wants the next generation of farmers to have a better awareness of the risks and take time to think about their actions in order to prevent serious or fatal injuries.

“I hope the presentation has helped to remind people of how dangerous a place farms can be. Although you may have done something one hundred times before, it doesn’t mean it is safe.”

NFU Mutual’s Risk Management Services Sales Consultant for the South West, Matthew Ilsley spoke to young farmers at the event. He was keen to highlight the risks involved in farming to a younger audience.

“The HSE figures indicate that it is often the older generation farmers who are involved in incidents for various reasons, so it is crucial we educate and raise awareness among the next farming generation and give them the right mindset to identify potential risks and how to apply safe ways of working,” he said.

“A few seconds to stop and think is all it can take to prevent serious injury or even death.”

Matthew says the area he supports in the South West tends to have smaller farms with less resources. This can make it more challenging for farmers to keep up to date with the right health and safety processes.

“During a session at an event like this, I like to make it as interactive as possible. People often share their own experiences, or those of people they know where someone has been seriously injured or even killed in an incident on a farm. That’s what makes these events and the message they carry so key, and personally so rewarding.”

Young farmers were also given a tour of Crealy Farms by Manging Director Chris Down, who talked about the diversification from a working farm to a popular theme park and resort.