Members of the Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) will close their yards to the public from Monday, March 16th and until further notice.
The action is being taken in view of the current situation and the Government instructions regarding the fight against the coronavirus, according to a statement from the association.
The FCI outlined that it is awaiting final guidance notes from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for members providing services to Irish farmers against the background of the need for care and good work practices due to the warnings about the coronavirus and its impact on farm activities.
Measures
It is urging all contractors to contact their customers/clients with the following advice/guidelines:
- No hand contact or shaking hands – if possible, pass the instructions over the phone;
- Maintain a minimum of two-metre safety distance;
- Cough into your elbow;
- Do not get in the tractor cabin with drivers;
- All invoices for work done will be emailed or posted and payments should be made directly into the contractor’s bank account.
Phone/email correspondence
For any work orders/instructions, farmers are asked to contact FCI members by phone or email to allow them to take care of requests in the ” best possible conditions”.
“On the other hand, please remember that the health of our teammates/machine operators & you as our customers, is our priority.”
The FCI said its members will do their best to bring clients the best farm contractor service despite these new constraints.
“Please follow the HSE Guidelines at all times. We want to thank you in advance for your understanding and trust.” the statement concluded.
Image source: FCI Facebook
