Stressed-out farmers advised to seek help to avoid injury

Many farm accidents may be due to a lack of concentration by farmers, as they struggle to cope with financial stress arising from the ongoing beef crisis and farm income cuts, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association’s rural development committee vice-chairman, Seamus Sherlock.

“I encounter farmers on a regular basis who are simply unable to cope with pressures from financial institutions due to a dramatic fall in farm income.

“Farmers already work in a very high risk environment with machinery and livestock.

“They now have the added stress of financial worries, which is causing problems like lack of appetite and sleep deprivation. The latter is also a major cause of fatigue which may also lead to accidents.”

Mr Sherlock advises farmers to seek help and not to suffer alone and in silence.

“There is help out there and a problem shared is a problem halved,” he said.

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