Farmers are under extreme pressure, everyone acknowledges as much. It’s an accumulation of things. Financial pressure is always stressful, particularly when there is a pressing need to continue spending on fodder and supplementary meal. The physical demands of the repetitive drudgery of the winter routine have left dairy, cattle and sheep farmers exhausted.
Meanwhile, tillage farmers are trying to stay patient and optimistic, waiting for the starting gun on spring work, now two months late.
Vegetable growers share those problems, and in common with the dairy sector are having difficulty in sourcing labour. No wonder everyone is frazzled.
It is not easy to keep the chin up in the midst of all this. However, the first thing to remember is that none of this is the fault of farmers.
Sustained wet weather will wreck the plans of the most diligent, thorough and careful of farmers. Feed and financial budgets have long been blown asunder, with some farmers now approaching eight months since stock were first housed back in August.
Rain From Nowhere
There’s a poem over on page 23. Go and read it when you’ve read this. It was written by an Australian poet and should resonate with any farmer.
Set on the other side of the world, with the opposite problem to that faced by Irish farmers – no rain rather than constant rain – but with an identical outcome: no grass or fodder and money running out, and an exhausted farmer who feels he is running out of options. A twist of fate changes his mindset; the right word at the right time.
We have to be near the end of this winter, growth has finally become noticeable from day to day, and there will be grass when stock are next turned out. There is no doubt that this winter will leave a long shadow, but it’s a shadow that will fade in time.
There are a number of contacts for farmers who need someone to share their thoughts and concerns with, but there’s nothing like a little neighbourly support.
Let’s all take a moment to check on each other in the farmhouse, in the townland, down the road.
A word of comfort, support or understanding can have a huge uplifting effect on someone under pressure.
If you need help:
SOSAD, regional suicide prevention organisation, 24/7 helpline, 041-984 8754.Samaritans 24-hour support, delivered by volunteers, 1850-609 090.Pieta House Suicide and Self Harm Crisis Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm/Saturday, 10am to 2pm, 1800-247 247.St Patrick’s Hospital mental health services, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, 01-2493 333. Read more
'Rain From Nowhere': a message for farmers
'It’s the men and women I’m worried about - we’ll get fodder for cattle
Listen: 'Adjusting is not a failure' – mental health tips for the fodder crisis
Farmers are under extreme pressure, everyone acknowledges as much. It’s an accumulation of things. Financial pressure is always stressful, particularly when there is a pressing need to continue spending on fodder and supplementary meal. The physical demands of the repetitive drudgery of the winter routine have left dairy, cattle and sheep farmers exhausted.
Meanwhile, tillage farmers are trying to stay patient and optimistic, waiting for the starting gun on spring work, now two months late.
Vegetable growers share those problems, and in common with the dairy sector are having difficulty in sourcing labour. No wonder everyone is frazzled.
It is not easy to keep the chin up in the midst of all this. However, the first thing to remember is that none of this is the fault of farmers.
Sustained wet weather will wreck the plans of the most diligent, thorough and careful of farmers. Feed and financial budgets have long been blown asunder, with some farmers now approaching eight months since stock were first housed back in August.
Rain From Nowhere
There’s a poem over on page 23. Go and read it when you’ve read this. It was written by an Australian poet and should resonate with any farmer.
Set on the other side of the world, with the opposite problem to that faced by Irish farmers – no rain rather than constant rain – but with an identical outcome: no grass or fodder and money running out, and an exhausted farmer who feels he is running out of options. A twist of fate changes his mindset; the right word at the right time.
We have to be near the end of this winter, growth has finally become noticeable from day to day, and there will be grass when stock are next turned out. There is no doubt that this winter will leave a long shadow, but it’s a shadow that will fade in time.
There are a number of contacts for farmers who need someone to share their thoughts and concerns with, but there’s nothing like a little neighbourly support.
Let’s all take a moment to check on each other in the farmhouse, in the townland, down the road.
A word of comfort, support or understanding can have a huge uplifting effect on someone under pressure.
If you need help:
SOSAD, regional suicide prevention organisation, 24/7 helpline, 041-984 8754.Samaritans 24-hour support, delivered by volunteers, 1850-609 090.Pieta House Suicide and Self Harm Crisis Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm/Saturday, 10am to 2pm, 1800-247 247.St Patrick’s Hospital mental health services, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, 01-2493 333. Read more
'Rain From Nowhere': a message for farmers
'It’s the men and women I’m worried about - we’ll get fodder for cattle
Listen: 'Adjusting is not a failure' – mental health tips for the fodder crisis
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