Reading Time: < 1 minute Harvest is a particularly stressful time and it’s important that farm owners and family members know the signs and symptoms of fatigue, anxiety and depression. “When you begin to feel overwhelmed or burnt out, one of the best things you can do is call a timeout, step back and take a moment for yourself,” said […] Read more
Don’t try to tough it out if you’re stressed
Reach out if you need help
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada has developed public service messages to encourage the conversation on mental health in agriculture. The PSAs, bearing the tag Rooted in Strength, encourage producers to “make sure your well-being is a priority” and to check out resources available at domore.ag, the website of the Do More Ag Foundation, a mental health advocacy […] Read more
The long wait: Delayed harvest wears you down
The stress isn’t just in the mind — and talking things out will lessen those physiological drivers
Reading Time: 5 minutes Fatigue when working long hours is a serious safety concern on farms — but another kind of exhaustion often sets in when farmers want to be out in the field, but are hampered by poor weather. “Even though we aren’t actually combining and it’s not physically taxing, the fatigue can still be there,” said Hannah […] Read more
Ag industry urged to ‘do more’ about mental health issues
New organization aims to destigmatize mental illness in the agriculture industry by getting people to talk more, ask more, and listen more
Reading Time: 5 minutes Sean Stanford thought he was going to die. It happened one week last winter, and started with a pain in his chest. A heart attack, he figured. A trip to the emergency room turned up nothing. There was nothing wrong with him. And then the pain started again, worse this time. Another trip to the […] Read more
Stressors pile up for Manitoba soybeans
Damaged patches of soybeans around Manitoba this year could be due to a combination of stresses, says Manitoba Agriculture plant pathologist Holly Derksen. “It’s a tricky year for diagnosing these problems,” Derksen said Wednesday during the Crop Talk Westman webinar. “When multiple stressors are present often the soybean plants may respond differently. Not all plants, […] Read more
In times of hardship, take time to consider all of your riches
The love of your children, support of family and friends, and faith are priceless treasures to be cherished
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am admiring the picture on the cover of Alexander McCall Smith’s book The Full Cupboard of Life. His fictitious stories from Botswana are an easy and humorous read. The cupboard referred to is typical; containing four plates and four cups, two bowls, a couple of pots, a little cooking oil, and a teapot. That’s […] Read more
Believe it or not — urban men are in better health than farmers
Stress and constantly working take their toll, but there’s a free and proven program that helps farmers enjoy healthier, better lives
Reading Time: 5 minutes You take good care of your land, your equipment, and your animals. But do you take the same care with your own health? Farmers tend not to think of themselves as a ‘tool’ that needs regular maintenance, says the program manager of Sustainable Farm Families Alberta. Combines, for instance, go into the shop before every […] Read more
Running on empty? It’s time to set goals for your farm
Working 100 hours a week is ‘a recipe for burnout,’ says American farmer and author who found salvation in scaling back
Reading Time: 3 minutes It takes guts to be a farmer these days. “Farming is an extremely complex business to run, and it takes remarkable courage,” said author Rebecca Thistlethwaite, who farms in Oregon. “It demands an incredible well of passion, a willingness to learn, and ‘stick-to-it-tiveness’ to make it work.” But more and more, farmers are finding that […] Read more
Farmers wanted for landmark survey on stress
Online survey available until Jan. 18, 2016
Reading Time: < 1 minute A researcher with the Ontario Veterinary College is looking for additional participants for a survey on farmer stress. About 700 farmers have filled out the online Producer Stress and Resilience survey, but lead researcher Andria Jones-Bitton is hoping to get 1,000 responses. This study, the first of its kind in Canada, is intended to chart […] Read more
You’re not alone — resources for dealing with stress
Reading Time: < 1 minute Here are some of the resources available if you, or a loved one, are experiencing undue stress: Alberta Mental Health Help Line 1-877-303-2642 This toll-free helpline provides confidential advice and information on mental health services 24 hours a day. Community Mental Health Clinics These clinics provide voluntary clinical community-based mental health services to individuals of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
