Farmers are worried about when this winter will end. They are weary from endless yardwork, and low on resources of energy, food and finance. As much as anything, what is wanting is someone to give voice to all that frustration and near desperation.

Step forward Mattie White.

A 45-year-old drystock farmer from Carrig-on-Bannow on the south Wexford coast, Mattie is a member of the Irish Farming Discussion group on Facebook.

He posted a video early on Tuesday morning, as another day turned wet. The footage was of his suckler cows and their calves in a sodden field. The message was simple and searingly honest. Raising his voice only to be heard above the roar of the sea breeze, Mattie spoke of how he had to let his animals out because he had no feed left for them. More animals were inside, but would have to be turned out in 10 days. He had obtained silage from neighbours, for which he was grateful, but his concern for his stock was palpable.

“Only a few short weeks ago the farmers of this parish and other parishes got up off their arse to help people, to clear roads, to get people to shops,” he said. “This is where your food comes from. I’d like to think that in Ireland today somebody out there will share this”.

They did – more than 50,000 people shared it within 24 hours. A visibly emotional Mattie posted a follow-up video that evening, overwhelmed by the offers of fodder and of good wishes from both the farming and the wider community.

Leadership

We now need leadership from Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed. Churchill didn’t shoot down any planes or man an air raid shelter during the blitz, but he is regarded as the embodiment of leadership.

Farmers need to see a real understanding of the scale and seriousness of the day-to-day issues they are facing.

In fairness, he has made a genuine attempt to make up for his comments made in the Dáil last week, but he is still playing catch-up.

Of course, the closer that the farm organisations and the Department are on an issue, the easier the Minister’s job is. On the fodder crisis, there has been a chasm.