As wet weather persists, farmers are financially impacted and trying to sort out long-term plans, leading to a stressful start to the year, and they could be pushing mental health concerns to the side.
Speaking to potato and tillage farmer, Patrick Dehaene of Oldtown in north Co. Dublin, he told Agriland that farmers are already under a lot of pressure, but that this continued rain “is going to break people”.
Dehaene has been farming in the area for over 30 years, and said he never seen conditions as bad as they are now.
He said he has bean and wheat seed in the shed, but that the window for sowing is “getting very narrow”.
‘The rooster will run out’
Dehaene said that he has sprayed a small amount of fertiliser, but that the process should be complete at this time of the year, moving on to the sowing and planting of the potatoes.
“I fear that a lot of the land in the country is going to be left fallow this year,” he said.
He added that there will be a shortage of potatoes going into the summer months directly because of wet weather conditions.
“I think the rooster will run out,” Dehaene told Agriland.
“We’re in the business of producing food and if the weather doesn’t let us do that, no government is going to solve it.
“They can give financial aid to the individual grower, but long term it’s not going to answer any questions,” Dehaene said.
Weather
He said that wet fields as a result of current weather conditions are “compounded” by issues continuing on from 2023, and that he has “no doubt” that mental support will be required this year.
He said it is important that farmers reach out and talk to each other as challenging times continue, adding that “nobody is an island”.
Mental health
Executive director for Samaritans Ireland, Sarah O’Toole said that farmers should try reaching out for help “before an issue becomes too big”.
“We know a lot of farmers are men and oftentimes men are not great at talking,” O’Toole said.
O’Toole emphasised the importance for farmers to take a break, and said that getting sleep, eating properly, and talking to someone are “the most beneficial things you can do for your mental health”.
She said that for farmers in particular, there are associations like men’s shed that are open for use.
“Find something that suits you, not every service suits everybody,” O’Toole said.
The Samaritans Ireland service is available 24 hours a day, every day, and can be contacted using its free phone confidential helpline or through email.
O’Toole mentioned other services farmers can also reach out to, such as ALONE; Pieta; and Aware.