IFA encourage farmers to be Sun Smart
As the Irish weather becomes increasingly warmer over the summer months, IFA National Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Alice Doyle is encouraging farmers to protect their skin from sun and reduce risk of skin cancer as they work outdoors.
“Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland with almost 13,000 cases diagnosed each year. Most people living in Ireland have fair skin, the type which burns easily and tans poorly, so are at high risk of UV damage and skin cancer,” Alice Doyle said.
Alice Doyle stated that protecting your skin from the sun whether at home or abroad can reduce your risk of skin cancer.
It is important to make sun protection part of your daily routine, especially from May to September, even when it is cloudy. Farmers are exposed to 2-3 times more UV radiation from the sun compared with people who work indoors, putting them at a higher risk of skin cancer.
The best way to protect your skin is to follow the SunSmart FIVE Ss: They are:
- Slip-on clothing that covers your skin
- Slop on sunscreen,
- Slap on a wide-brimmed hat,
- Seek shade, and
- Slide on sunglasses.
FORESTRY CONFERENCE
IFA will hold its National Farm Forestry conference this Thursday, June 8, in the Tullamore Court Hotel at 10am, with registration from 9.30am.
IFA Farm Forestry Chairperson Jason Fleming said the conference aims to provide a platform for farmers and forest owners to hear and engage with policy makers and experts on a range of topics focused on how we can create a viable future farm forestry sector. It will explore potential future opportunities, including forest carbon.
“If we are to restore confidence among farmers in forestry as a land use option and plant at the scale required to meet our climate targets, we need to bring together all stakeholders to understand and address issues that are holding farmers back from planting and look at the new opportunities within the sector,” said Jason Fleming.
The keynote address will be delivered by Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The morning session will focus on future forest policy and supports; ash dieback; managing forests in the current regulatory environment; and opportunities provided by agroforestry. Speakers include Marina Conway, Western Forestry Co-op, representatives from DAFM Forest Service and Dr. Jim McAdam, Irish Agroforestry Forum.
The afternoon session will introduce forest carbon, the work that is ongoing to provide a framework for valuing carbon as well as an example of an operational voluntary forest carbon scheme. Speakers include Pat Snowdon, UK Woodland Carbon Code, Fergus Moores, DAFM and Tom Houlihan, Forestry Specialist, Teagasc.
There will be panel Q&A sessions after each session where participants will also can pose their own questions, and actively participate in the discussions.
There is no charge to attend this conference, but spaces are limited so please register your interest at www.ifa.ie/Forest23.
IFA DIARY DATES
IFA Munster Grain Meeting on Thursday, June 8, Corrin Mart, Fermoy at 8pm. Speakers include IFA President Tim Cullinan; IFA Grain Committee Chair Kieran McEvoy; IFA Chief Economist Tadhg Buckley and Teagasc specialists.
IFA National Forestry Conference Thursday, June 8, in Tullamore Court Hotel from 10am- 4pm. Link on IFA Website to register https://www.ifa.ie/Rm38j. Keynote speaker is Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett.