'My animals were culled and I had severe sadness'

County Down farmer Damien Tumelty has been speaking about his own experience

The Balmoral Show celebrates all things farming.

It also affords people who may not have seen each other since last year the chance to get together.

But with challenges in agriculture ranging from soaring feed, fuel and fertiliser costs to an ageing population and bovine tuberculosis (bTB), farmers can feel the pressure.

Calls to the charity Rural Support have almost doubled in the past year, with many callers seeking counselling.

Balmoral Show provides an opportunity for farming families to come together

A silent farmyard

County Down farmer Damien Tumelty turned to the service when his pedigree Dexter cattle herd contracted bTB.

"It was a severe sort of sad issue," he said. "It does interfere with your thoughts and stuff.

"These were show animals that we had which were going away.

"We had a prized bull which won Balmoral and he was Rare Breed Champion five years in a row and he took Tb.

"To say you were handling it wouldn't be right."

The journey began in February 2022 and by November 2023 the family had to make the decision to cull their remaining 60 cattle.

It was a tough call to make and Damien felt he needed help with the mental impact of the whole experience, especially with "the weird feeling" of a silent farmyard during a difficult winter.

So he turned to Rural Support.

"There was a girl came to see me once a week, every week for I think it was eight sessions and she was really good to talk to because she knew where you were coming from.

"She was experienced in that field and it really helped you get on with things as well."

Rural Support emerged following the foot-and-mouth disease crisis of the early 21st century.

Gyles Dawson works with the charity Rural Support

Head of Therapeutical Services and Crisis Support Gyles Dawson has worked with the charity ever since.

"You wouldn't ask an engine to do anything unless you had a service plan in place, so we need to provide that service to the farm and farm families on the ground to ensure that an engine continues to run efficiently."

The charity has seen an increase of 40% in calls in the last three to four months and a 98% rise in the past year.

"Because mostly agriculture sector and farmers are mostly men, men just don't talk," said Gyles.

"But you have to get over that pride factor."

The Balmoral Show celebrates all things farming

Boots on the Ground is one of the group's initiatives to empower farmers to recognise when they or those around them may be experiencing stress.

And Gyles is seeing the impact.

"We can only ever go out to a farm unless we have that individual's permission to do so.

"And I have sat in front of people and said: 'I can't believe that you're sitting in front of me, that you've actually asked me to come out here'.

"But nine times out of 10, when you go through the process with them, you can actually see the relief coming over their face."

Damien and his family used their four months of no cattle to look at their direction in farming.

They're now hoping to acquire full organic status in June 2025 and have diversified beyond the Dexters they initially specialised in.

Damien says he is now in a better place.

"To say that you didn't have a meltdown would not would be true, you know?

"There's even days you still think about it and you think about showing animals and winning the big championships, and there's times where you will have a slight cry yourself.

"Good family and friends are a bonus - but you have to get your own head around what's going on."