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Stress on farmers and their families is growing
As the ag economy struggles to recover, the financial and mental health stress being felt by farmers and their families is growing.
John Lawrence is the associate dean and director for Agriculture and Natural Resources at Iowa State University. He’s part of a task force that meets quarterly to discuss topics such as foreclosures, default rates, mediations and the stresses caused by the slumping farm economy.
“We’re hearing more—probably as much or more—on kind of a mental health stress as we are financial stress,” Lawrence says, “and oftentimes the mental health stress—strained marriages, sleepless nights and that stuff—is because of financial stress.”
Lawrence tells Brownfield that calls to the Iowa Concern Hotline are beginning to pick up.
“Farm partners, or wives, are calling. They need someone to talk to. And the farmers themselves are not talking to people. They’re starting to because of the worry and concern,” he says. “It’s not widespread—it’s not constant calls—but they’re getting more of those than they’ve had in previous years.”
Lawrence says more experienced farmers may be better equipped to handle the economic downturn, but it may be tougher for those who have not been through difficult times on the farm.
“The challenge is that when it turned around, the strategies that worked in an up market may not work as well in a down market—and those are likely to be the people in a most vulnerable position, that maybe have a little more debt than others or more debt than what the current commodity prices will support.”
Lawrence encourages individuals who think they need help to contact the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985.
AUDIO: John Lawrence
Other resources:
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258
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