Croí, the Heart & Stroke Charity, along with Healthy Ireland, Pobal and Teagasc, invite the farming community in Mayo to get involved and make heart healthy changes this Mayo Farmers Month, launching December 29.

Looking after your overall health and wellbeing is important for everyone, but especially for farmers as they are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke says local heart and stroke charity, Croí, ahead of Mayo Farmers Month this January.

Almost half of Irish farmers have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and 86% are overweight or are living with obesity – all major risk factors! Despite knowing all these numbers and statistics, Irish farmers identify themselves as “healthy”.

Farmers have historically been seen as a physically active group, but daily “sitting time” for farmers can be as high as 8+ hours. “We know that the occurrence of heart disease, cardiac events and stroke is significantly higher among Irish farmers compared to other groups of employees,” says Croí Physiotherapist, Denise Dunne.

To mark Mayo Farmers Month, Croí invites you to attend a FREE virtual Webinar on Thursday January 21st at 7pm to learn more about heart health, stress management and overall health and wellbeing with a panel of local nursing and allied health professional experts.

Announcing details of the event, Dunne says: “This is a great opportunity to learn more about the medical and lifestyle risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the impact these risk factors can have on your overall health and wellbeing and more importantly the steps you can take to reduce your risk. People usually think of cardiovascular disease as an older person’s problem but small changes matter and it’s never too late to start.”

Check out the Croí website at www.croi.ie/farmers for lots of free resources and to register for the free webinar. Or call Croí on 091-544310 to reserve your space.

President of the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) Colm O’Donnell cautioned against the prospect of more land designations and stressed how the new CAP must not discriminate against farmers on environmentally sensitive lands.

This call was made at the Associations AGM last Friday which was held on the zoom platform and attended by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. In his closing address O’Donnell highlighted the flawed policy of using the designation process to protect the planet and stressed how the “INHFA are for biodiversity but firmly against more EU land designations.”

The EU nature directives have he stated “failed over the last twenty years for everyone and in particular farmers. Unfortunately he continued “the principle objectives outlined in the proposed EU Biodiversity Strategy appears to suggest more of the same.”
The President continued by urging the Minister to engage with other Departments in particular Environment and Heritage to develop a united front to protect those farming these environmentally sensitive areas.”

In acknowledging the role Minister McConalogue has in the EU Council of Ministers, the INHFA President stressed the need to ensure that enhanced conditionality under GAEC 2 must “not discriminate against farmers with these carbon rich soils and ensure these areas remain fully eligible as agricultural areas in any final agreement on definitions.”
In addition to this O’Donnell added how desired outcomes on these areas needs to be incentivised through eco schemes and complemented by Pillar 2 schemes in the next iteration of CAP.

A novel proposal from Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) could result in the planting of 10 million native Irish trees to represent the 10 million people born in the 26 counties since the formation of the Irish State.

INHFA spokesperson Vincent Roddy outlined how this legacy project can provide the State with a unique opportunity to celebrate our citizens over the last century while also delivering in terms of climate change mitigation and increased biodiversity.
The proposal which has been circulated to Oireachtas members and President Higgins will according to Mr. Roddy “provide those interested with the opportunity to plant a tree for themselves and family members both past and present".

“These trees can under the proposal be planted on farmland and private property and where these options are not available on public land near their family home or an area of interest to them,” he explained.

Providing people with the option of where they can plant their trees will Roddy stated “be a critical component of the initiative that can ensure a high uptake with Irish families both at home and abroad”.

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association have called on the Minister and his Department to re-assess their ongoing farm inspections through the Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.

National President Colm O’Donnell outlined how farmers have been contacting us following notification of inspections, concerned of the possible risk of contracting the virus as they seek to comply with these inspections." Many of the farmers that have contacted us, are elderly or have underlying health conditions and are currently doing everything possible in limiting their personal contacts as they try to stay safe.”

While inspectors are informing them that they don’t need to be present for the inspection farmers are required to have all the animals penned. This stated the INHFA President “is where the main problem arises, as these farmers often need help in gathering their stock which puts them in direct contact with people that are not part of their immediate family circle.”

The inspections of most concern relate to cattle and sheep and continued O’Donnell “often come with minimum notice of 24hours which gives farmers very little time to organise help.” While farmers have the option to defer any inspection for up to two weeks the farm leader stressed “how most farmers are reluctant to ask for this as they feel it may come against them when the inspection does happen. Furthermore, a two-week delay will still not take us out of the timeframe for Level 5 restrictions.

In accepting that inspections are a part of our farm payment process and a requirement under CAP regulations there is, maintained O’Donnell “a need to recognise the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in due to Covid-19. We need to provide the same level of protection to vulnerable farmers as any other Irish or EU citizen. On this basis it isn’t unreasonable to offer these farmers the opportunity to postpone any inspection for the duration of our Level 5 restrictions.” It's also important to note that the people carrying out those inspections are also at risk.

The opportunity to defer these inspections should he added “be offered to the farmer by the DAFM Inspector when they are been notified of the inspection. By making this offer, vulnerable farmers won’t feel compelled to risk their own health to carry out the inspection.

O’Donnell concluded by stating “how we have contacted the DAFM on this and are hopeful that they will take on board our suggestions.”

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association has called on the Minister and Government to make immediate changes to the current restrictions that apply to the sale of livestock through our marts.

National President Colm O’Donnell stressed how marts need to be given the chance to facilitate ring-side buyers in a socially distanced manner that protects those present. I have he stated “every confidence that our mart managers and their staff can do this, as they have been doing so for the last number of months.”

The introduction of level 5 and the associated restrictions for the sale of livestock through our marts has he maintained, “being poorly thought out with no consideration given to its impact on livestock sales and price. For many of our farmers especially those in the sheep and suckler sectors the sale of stock at this time of year is essential in providing the income that pays their bills and provides them with cash-flow into next Spring. To deny these farmers the opportunity of getting the best price possible will negatively impact their income well into next year.”

The Government he continued “needs to act now and allow ring-side sales to recommence. This issue needs to be recognized as an essential form of trading. If off-licenses can stay open at a time where the chief medical officer recognizes the clear link between alcohol and the spread of the virus then there can be no reason to prohibit the ring-side sale of livestock.”

The INHFA President concluded by outlining the role of the Government in fighting this virus by bringing as many people as possible with them. There is, he stated “a definite change in people's attitude now to last Spring with more questioning of restrictions and why they are applied. Currently inside farming there is a clear view that the Government has got this one spectacularly wrong. They need to accept this and act on it or otherwise they will lose the farming support and much of rural Ireland.”