It’s no secret that the ag economy is volatile right now. With tariffs and other global issues, farmers are feeling the economic squeeze, and that can take a huge toll on their mental health. Matt Willamack, Iowa Soybean Association District 6 board member, said small-scale farms and younger farmers tend to feel the pinch first.
As more and more people become further removed from the farm, rural mental health issues can often be overlooked.
Even though some global trade relationships definitely needed to change, Willamack said a hard-nosed approach across the board only increases the amount of stress on farmers.
Willamack added that it’s important to remain “Iowa nice” and check in on your neighbors who might be going through difficult times on the farm. For more from the Iowa Soybean Association, visit iasoybeans.com.
