The Ulster Farmers' Union and the Health and Safety Executive NI have announced details of an all island farm safety conference, to be held in County Monaghan on the 18th of June. Experts from Ireland and Sweden will present findings from recent studies on strategies to improve the safety and health record of the local farming sector.

Launching the conference, the first of its kind, UFU Rural Affairs Chairperson Esther Ervine said; "Farm safety needs to be a priority for local farming families. This conference is bringing together experts from both sides of the border and from Scandanavia to discuss how our health and safety record can be improved.

We have been campaigning in recent years to draw attention to issues such as the safety of children on farms and the well being of elderly people working in agriculture.

This is an important event which is open to farmers, contractors, trainers, advisors and anyone with an interest in safety and health in agriculture".

The conference will be held on 18 June in the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan. The event will begin at 10.00am and close at 3.30pm. The conference will be chaired by the BBC's Karen Patterson.

Anyone wishing to attend the All-Island Farm Safety Conference, should contact Angela Scott at UFU Headquarters Tel: 02890 370222. Attendance at the conference is free of charge but pre-booking is essential.

Malcolm Downey from Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland said; "The conference will focus on a range of important farm safety issues including: safety of the elderly; safety when working with livestock; the effects of serious accidents on farm families; and occupational health issues on farms. We have a first class line-up of speakers and it will be very helpful to share experiences and expertise with the industry in the Republic of Ireland".

Other partners in this cross border initiative include the Irish Farmers' Association and the Irish Health and Safety Authority.