ICSA president Sean McNamara has said that the association is increasingly alarmed by the growing number of farmers who feel powerless and distressed in their dealings with the Department of Agriculture. "We in ICSA are getting more and more reports from farmers who are at their wits' end over how they have been treated when issues arise on farms. The overwhelming message is that farmers feel they have no voice and no protection when faced with what they perceive as disproportionate or overly harsh responses from department officials," he said.

 Continuing, Mr McNamara said, "The fear is very real. Farmers are afraid to speak up because they know the Department has the power to issue penalty on top of penalty - or even take away their ability to farm altogether. From minor discrepancies to more complex problems, the common thread is a sense of being constantly punished rather than supported. There are cases that have dragged on for years, where farmers feel like they're trapped in an endless cycle of penalties and scrutiny. The emotional toll of this is enormous. People feel persecuted. They feel like they'll never be free of it, no matter how much they try to put things right."

 Mr McNamara said ICSA is deeply concerned about the resulting mental health implications - not just for individual farmers, but for entire families. "We're dealing with people who feel utterly powerless, who are losing sleep, and who are struggling to cope. The sense of injustice and hopelessness is affecting their well-being. This cannot be ignored."

 ICSA recently called for the establishment of an independent helpline to support farmers dealing with TB breakdowns - a move the Department has now agreed to implement. However, Mr McNamara said this should be just the beginning. "This helpline model should be expanded to provide broader support, with the capacity to act as a mediator or liaison in contentious situations. Farmers need somewhere to turn when they feel overwhelmed or unfairly treated. They need to be heard."

Concluding, Mr McNamara urged the Department to reflect on how it engages with farmers. "There needs to be a cultural shift. Farmers deserve to be treated with fairness, with empathy, and with the recognition that most are doing their best under enormous pressure. Mistakes or misunderstandings should not be met with threats or disproportionate punishment. The goal should be to resolve issues constructively - not to instil fear."