The Minister of State with responsibility for Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae, is scheduled to address a national meeting for horticulture and potato growers, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).

IFA horticulture chairperson, Mark Walsh confirmed that the meeting will take place in Dublin next Tuesday, February 25.

Key challenges facing both sectors will be on the agenda at the meeting which will also feature guest speakers from the food regulator, Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

According to the IFA horticulture chair it has been a difficult start to the year for many in the sector, with recent storm damage compounded by wider challenges in the sector, such as access to sustainable staffing, input cost challenges and market pressures.

"The sector requires joined-up thinking from all government departments to address these issues, or this downward trend will continue,” Walsh said.

Meanwhile Minister Healy-Rae recently appealed for farmers to be more “safety conscious”.

The minister, who also has responsibility for farm safety, made the comments at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Kerry county executive of the IFA.

“The worst thing that can ever happen in a family farm is that a person gets up in the morning and that they’ll go away doing their days’ work on the farm and they’ll get hurt, maimed or worse again, be killed,” he said.

“I’d ask you all, everyday of the week when you’re going out, no matter what you’re doing, think of safety,” he added.

The minister issued a particular appeal to those who are currently assessing forestry damage caused by Storm Éowyn and to those who are currently calving cows.

According to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) there were 12 fatalities due to farming incidents last year, which was down by 40% on the 20 deaths recorded in 2023.