Irish Rural Link calls on communities to support farm families

THE Moate based Irish Rural Link (IRL) - the national group campaigning for sustainable rural communities - has called on communities to support farm families affected by the fodder crisis.

The calls from IRL came before they are due to attend the Awakening Communities Conference, a one-day conference, in
Summerhill, Co. Meath tomorrow (Friday).

At the conference, IRL is set to ask all communities to support farm families who have been affected by the fodder crisis.

Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link stated: “In the last few weeks we have become aware of the high stress levels experienced by farmers. It is important that all of the agencies dealing with farmers, including the banks and merchants, are aware of farmer’s difficulties and are prepared to take a longer-term view in terms of credit limits offered, as well as other loans that are due. Because of the fodder crisis, coupled with an unusually long winter, farmers have had to endure extremely high levels of stress. With high numbers of animal deaths and having to find extra money to buy scarce feed, farm families affected are facing the year knowing that their income will be severely affected.”

Mr Boland also praised the work of the Minister for Agriculture and his department, and the many agencies, such as Teagasc, which have been assisting farmers with advice and the sourcing of extra feed. However, he said that there is a real fear that farmer’s mental health has also been affected by the crisis.
“In such cases, IRL are calling on communities to encourage farmers and their families to seek out help as a first step,” said Mr Boland.