Michael Nixon, a farmer who sustained a serious back injury after falling 28 feet from a shed roof, has called on the government to maintain critical funding for farm safety initiatives. Nixon, 38, was clearing gutters when he lost his footing and landed on concrete, resulting in a broken vertebra, sternum, and several ribs. His injuries left him wheelchair-dependent, but he continues to run a sheep farm and a community gym near Milton Keynes.

Nixon’s appeal comes amid broader concerns over potential government budget cuts following Chancellor John Healey’s recent comments to the Cabinet warning of the need to reduce spending to meet the Prime Minister’s financial commitments. Nixon urged Dame Angela Eagle, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to safeguard funding streams such as the Farmer Welfare Grant and the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which he says are essential for farmers to afford safety equipment.

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” Nixon said, emphasizing the importance of government support for farmers to reduce workplace hazards. His message coincides with the ongoing Farm Safety Week, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers faced by agricultural workers.

The Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies, highlighted recent data showing that 22 agricultural workers died on British farms during 2025-26. The charity noted that farm workers are seven times more likely to die at work compared to those in the construction industry. Other statistics reveal that half of last year’s fatalities involved workers aged 65 or older, while 10% were children.

Nixon, who has worked in farming since he was 17, recounted his medical journey after the fall. Initially treated at Coventry Hospital and told he might never walk again, he spent three months confined to bed before transferring to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for rehabilitation. After six months of intensive therapy, he returned home in March 2020 to his wife, Marie, and their 17-year-old son, Jacob. Despite his injuries, he remains committed to farming and community engagement, rearing Greyface Dartmoor sheep and managing an inclusive gym designed for people of all physical abilities.

Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, expressed her intent to collaborate with Dame Angela Eagle to keep farm safety a national priority. “Every year, too many lives are lost or changed forever by accidents on UK farms,” Berkeley said. She called for strong leadership, sustained investment in education, and continued support to improve farm safety.

Dame Angela acknowledged farming as a vital yet hazardous occupation, stating, “Every farmer who doesn’t come home after work is a tragedy for families and wider rural communities.” She praised the Farm Safety Foundation for its ongoing efforts to reduce accidents and save lives within the agricultural sector.