Half of all workplace deaths so far this year happened on farms, the Health and Safety Authority said today.
Of the 16 people to die, eight have been killed on farms or in farm-related incidents.
Five people were killed in Co Cork alone. Four of those killed were aged 65 or over.
In the latest incident, a Co Mayo farmer died after a bull attacked him. This was the first death by animal attack this year.
Of the 73 people killed in the workplace in 2005, 18 were in agriculture, which had the worst record of any sector, as in 2003 and 2004. There were more deaths in construction, but there are far more workers in this sector than in agriculture.
The HSA chief executive Tom Beegan warned that farmers were not taking the risk of death or serious injury seriously enough.
"Every accident is predictable and preventable," he said. "We urge farmers to just take five or ten minutes to spot and sort potential safety issues around the farm."
Teagasc also urged farmers to attend training courses and take precautions while on their farms. "Particular care is needed when operating farm vehicles, power drives and machine with moving parts," said Teagasc health and safety officer John McNamara. "Bulls can also be dangerous and attacks by livestock are one of the prime causes of farm deaths in the summer months."