Awful impact of farming crisis highlighted

The devastating impact of the fodder crisis on farm incomes and animal welfare has been cited as one of the main contributory factors that resulted in the suspected deaths by suicide of seven West Clare farmers.

 

There has also been an increase in the number of contacts made by farmers to the Pieta House suicide and self-harm prevention centre in Mungret, Limerick following a joint initiative with the IFA.

The number of referrals to the regional centre in Mungret from all sections of society continues to increase from 352 in 2011 to over 700 in 2012 and is projected to top 1,200 by the end of the year.

The Clare Champion has also learned that the lives of three farmers who were at risk of suicide were saved after the intervention of local IFA and community activists.

Clare IFA leaders have confirmed that the chronic fodder shortage, cash flow problems, stress caused by farm inspections, rural isolation all contributed to the seven deaths.

Clare IFA chairman Andrew Dundas confirmed fodder shortages had caused huge mental difficulties for farmers after one of the worst prolonged spell of bad weather from June 2012 to last June.

Like a lot of farmers, Mr Dundas couldn’t complete his second silage cut last year for the first time since 1985 and noted difficulties securing alternative fodder had caused huge problems for farmers.

He said a combination of different factors had resulted in the seven deaths by suicide, three of which occurred in a two-week period.

“Rural isolation is a major problem. It is important for farmers to be aware that bodies like the Pieta House and the Samaritans can help.

“There is no easy solution and it is not an easy subject to talk about. Farmers have been subjected to extreme pressure over the last 12 months.

“With the benefit of hindsight it would have helped farmers if they had sold cattle. A lot of farmers had enough fodder up to April 1 and were expecting the weather to improve but that didn’t happen.

“I have had a number of representations from farmers about farm inspections, which has caused a lot of stress,” he said.

He said the Department of Agriculture is now reviewing Area Aid and Single Farm ­Payments going back to 2008 and 2009 for alleged overpayments on scrubland that had already been approved for payments.
Councillor PJ Kelly expressed concern about the seven deaths by suicide this year and another five people in the wider community over the last 10 days.

The Lissycasey councillor warned there has been a “total breakdown of life in rural Ireland” following the closure of pubs, shops, post offices, garda stations and other rural services.

Expressing concern about geographic and social isolation, he stressed that measures should be put in place to revitalise rural parts of Clare.

Citing the sale of one 22-year-old turnkey house in immaculate condition in West Clare last week for €80,000, he claimed the rural parts of the county were worst hit by the recession.

He has tabled a joint ­motion with Councillor Gabriel ­Keating for the next Clare County Council meeting ­requesting EU Structural funding to address social and economic inequalities in rural areas.

Tom McEvoy of Pieta House confirmed there has been a big increase in contacts to the centre from farmers since the start of the year.

In addition to addressing a Clare IFA executive meeting last winter, Mr McEvoy said Pieta House had provided a weekend training courses for farmers to help them identify symptoms of someone in extreme distress and what appropriate steps could be taken to help their recovery.

He said that unfortunately when one suicide takes place in a community this can put this option in the mind of someone in crisis who may go on to take their own life without realising help is available from their regional centre.

“There seems to be a reluctance amongst some farmers to engage with services like Pieta House when they are in crisis because of pride.

However, the work with the IFA has helped farmers to realise it is very easy to make a referral to the centre where therapy will be provided free of charge almost immediately,” he said.

ICMSA representative, Patrick O’Donoghue, recalled it took one local knackery about six days to take away a dead cow in North Clare last spring because they were so busy.

Mr O’Donoghue said that not having enough money to buy fodder for farm animals and, in some cases, to pay household bills and put food on the table for the family has caused huge mental anguish in the farming community.

Another farm leader, who didn’t wish to be named, said that people who weren’t farmers didn’t realise the extreme pressure and financial hardship imposed by the fodder crisis and the prolonged spell of bad weather.

“I attended a farm walk a few months ago and two farmers in front of me said ‘at least we don’t have to listen to cattle roaring here’.”

“I met farmers who had tears running down their faces during the fodder crisis because they didn’t know what to do. Clare Marts put in trojan work assisting Clare farmers who ran out of fodder.

“I shudder to think about what would have happened if they didn’t get involved,” he said.