'Think safety first' to avoid silage accidents this year 19 May 2021 | Farmers and contractors are being urged to make safety their first priority Farmers are being reminded to 'think safety first' to avoid accidents this year as the delayed silage first cut gets underway. Silage making is one of the busiest times of the year for livestock farmers and contractors, and puts machinery and workers under a lot of strain. Slow grass growth due to the dry and cold spring has delayed first cut – but following recent rain in some areas farmers are now rushing to get grass harvested. But NFU Mutual has warned that this rush, along with added time pressures for farming businesses, can 'add to the risks'.