We can't afford a lapse in concentration

Almost all of us have experienced a calving or lambing season first-hand. There is a pattern to events.

There is usually a difficult opening few days, with preparations not complete when first lambs or calves appear. There are some losses early on, as cows or ewes with issues abort their young.

And then everyone gets into their stride.

Long days and night vigils are met with energy. There are plenty of pens for new mothers and their young, and everywhere is clean and sanitised.

It’s at about the midway point that the most successful farmers are sorted from the average. And there’s no magic or mystery to it.

The best farmers simply keep maintaining the same high level of management, hygiene, observation and attention.

The rest of us, and I include myself in the latter category, lapse. Tiredness, family duties or perhaps other priorities, be it the milking cows on a dairy farm, or perhaps spring field work on a mixed drystock farm, cause us to temporarily lower our performance level.

The cost is often severe. Problems with mismothering and sick lambs or calves mean much more time is spent with the flock than would otherwise have been required. Every hour in the shed is spent with the nagging regret that we were on top of things but slipped up.

And that is precisely where we are now with the fight against Covid-19.

Any slip, any drop of discipline will cost us all dearly. Of course, it gets progressively harder to stay indoors, or to maintain social distancing when on the rare trips to the shops. It’s particularly important for farmers to remember when interacting with service sectors. Mechanics, delivery drivers, and staff in farm shops and merchants should not be exposed to any unnecessary risk from poor observation of the protocols that are in place for their, and our, protection.

But we have to stick with it. The more disciplined we all stay, the quicker this will all be over, with the cost in lives minimised.

What was it that Joe Schmidt used to say when his Leinster and then Ireland team were beating all before them?

Process, not outcome. We must stick with the process, and the outcome will take care of itself. It will be worth it.