At the end of the day, we all want to go home to our loved ones, and we want our loved ones to return home to us. With almost 600 reported incidents on farms last year, farm safety is more important than ever.

That powerful reminder underpins our latest campaign: ‘Take 5 | Stay Alive’.

The message is simple: before starting any task on the farm, take just five minutes.

Five minutes to pause, to think, and to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing.

It could make all the difference.

Whether it’s checking machinery, preparing for livestock handling, or simply taking a breather during a hectic day, those five minutes can help you identify risks, prevent accidents, and protect your mental health.

It’s a small habit with potentially life-saving impact.

A timely reminder for a busy season

As workloads increase and the pressure of the season builds, it’s easy to push on without stopping.

But exhaustion is dangerous.

We’re encouraging members to use the ‘Take 5’ approach as a cue to build in regular breaks.

Use that time to reflect, recharge, and reconnect, with yourself and those around you.

• Take five minutes to check in on how you’re feeling.
• Take five minutes to ask a colleague if they’re okay.

These short moments can foster a safer, more supportive environment for everyone on the farm.

Your Take 5 | Stay Alive farm safety sticker

Don't lose it, use it!

Inside the August issue of British Farmer & Grower, you’ll find a ‘Take 5 | Stay Alive’ sticker.

Put it somewhere you’ll see it daily, on a tractor, machinery panel, shed door, wherever it’ll catch your eye and prompt that all-important pause.

Scan the code and check back here for our safety spotlight.

And, make sure you make a pledge today to make British farms safer.

We all know how important farm safety is, but in our busy, time-starved lives our best intentions might get lost. Making a pledge, a public commitment, inspires and helps others to do the right thing.

Recently, NFU Council members were asked to make a personal pledge, one thing they would commit to doing to improve safety on their own farm.

Now, we’re inviting you to do the same.

It might be as simple as:

• checking over your machinery before use
• wearing a helmet on your ATV, or
• reaching out to a neighbour for support.

Whatever you choose, every small action counts.

You can submit your pledge via our website form or share it with us on social media using the hashtag #Take5StayAlive.

Let’s inspire each other by showing what proactive safety looks like in real life.

Help us spread the word about how important this is to our industry. We want to encourage you and others to #Take5StayAlive and share videos explaining one measure you take to stay safe on farm.

Don't forget to tag fellow farmers in your video at the end and ask them to take up the challenge of sharing what they do on their farm.

You can share your stories through videos and images on social media. Here are a few tips to help you:

• Think about your message, pick a key safety topic and try to summarise it into three main points. 
• Open your video with 10 words that summarise what you are talking about to draw the audience in. Attention spans online are short. You need to grab attention in the first three seconds.
• Statistics or emotive messages are a great way to ensure the message resonates with the online audience.
• Be yourself. The more authentic the video, the better. It doesn’t have to be a high-production piece.
• Make it personal to you and your story.
• Choose a backdrop that represents the message. If you are talking about pre-harvest checks, have a combine in the background.
• Include the NFU’s key message #Take5StayAlive to encourage assessing and managing the risk before each task.
• Be short and to the point – aim for no longer than 30 seconds.
• Tag @NFUTweets  for X (Twitter) and @NFULife for Instagram. 

We all have a role to play – let’s start making a difference.

“Farming is an incredibly rewarding way of life, but it’s also one of the most dangerous sectors to work in. Every year, too many lives are lost or changed forever by preventable accidents. That must change.

“Farm safety isn’t just about ticking boxes: it’s about making sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.

“Tiredness, stress and financial pressures can all lead to risk-taking or cutting corners. A clear head and a culture of safety on your farm can help prevent life-changing accidents.

“In 2024, nearly a quarter of farmers surveyed by the NFU said their mental health had changed in the past year. That’s why looking after your physical and mental health is so important.

“Take five minutes today to think about how you can improve safety on your farm. It could save a life, including your own.”

So, as you head into a busy summer, remember, taking just five minutes could save a life, maybe even your own. Farm safety starts with you. Take 5 to stay alive and look after yourself and others.

You matter.