To say farming is stressful, may just be the understatement of understatements. Even without trade wars or global pandemic, farmers worry about many aspects of their operation. Many of these worries are beyond their control. The stress producers face even during good years would be enough to seriously affect the strongest of us. During this time, many have felt overwhelmed and have looked for ways to deal with their stress. Many of these choices having permanent repercussions.
Now, there is another tool available to help farmers cope with the stresses they are facing. A collaborative effort between Farm Credit, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), National Farmers Union (NFU), Michigan State University Extension (MSU), and University of Illinois (U of IL) Extension helps people identify stressors, manage them, and learn effective communication techniques.
Low commodity prices, COVID-19, trade disputes, and weather have plagued the American farmer for years now. A class developed between MSU and U of IL extensions is available to farmers around the country. Farm Credit Council President and CEO Todd Van Hoose says that Farm Credit has a mission to support rural communities and agriculture. Rural mental health support is an important part of that.
Van Hoose says that there is a stigma in rural America to admitting you have a problem or asking for help. The goal of the program is to overcome that stigma and make farmers realize they can feel good about asking for help.
Van Hoose gives an overview of what the course will have to offer. It is free, private, and can be accessed in your own home and completed at your own pace.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said that while times are stressful, there is no need to face it alone. He says that ?quiet is the opposite of strength.?
Duvall talked about his own personal stresses that he has faced, most recently in dealing with the sickness and passing of his own wife, Bonnie. He talked about the perception of having to remain strong when you need to have your own time to react. Duvall says you must be able to let it out. You have to be able to help yourself before you can attempt to help others.
Mike Stranz is the Vice President of Advocacy for the National Farmers Union. He says that the past four months have been dangerous and troubling. The isolation we have faced has made it even more difficult to spot the signs of stress and suicide, while also limiting the chances we have just to talk to each other.
Stranz compared this situation now to the farm crisis of the 1980s. He talked about how some of the tools available then are still available now. However, the decrease in the rural population has made it harder to connect to others who understand what you may be going through.
Stranz said this collaborative effort to bring stress management training to all farmers across the country shows the benefits of not trying to go at something alone
The training is free, private, and compatible on many device platforms. The class takes about three hours to complete, but you can take it at your own pace. There are many places you can find a link to the training. One of those many links is on the Farm Credit website.
