Harvest is often a highlight of the year, but it can also be a stress-filled time, especially when combined with other factors outside of a farm’s control.
In addition to the usual untimely weather and equipment breakdowns, the list of uncontrollable factors this harvest includes declining crop prices that are creating questions about profitability and the prospect over the last few weeks of a railway shutdown making it difficult to pay bills this fall.
There are steps that can be taken to prevent having those pressures add up to the point where they are overwhelming, says Gerry Friesen, chief administrative officer with the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program and author of the newly-released book “The Recovering Farmer.”
“It’s important that as individuals, number one, we have to understand the fact that we’re not alone. There are others out there that are experiencing this too. I know from my own personal experience, when I was farming and going through some difficult times, it’s incredibly important that we verbalize that, that we’re able to talk about it, and that might be to a family member, it might be to a neighbour, and of course, in situations, it’s good to reach out for some professional help, too,” he says, in the interview below.
While there may be a tendency to withdraw and isolate during periods of elevated stress, Friesen says it’s important to be intentional in seeking meaningful conversations with other humans during these times.
Getting enough sleep and resisting the allure of social media algorithms to doom-scroll and partake in societal negativity are some other keys to navigating stress-filled periods, he notes.
Many people can also benefit from seeking outside help, says Friesen. In Manitoba, the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program offers farmers, their families, and workers up to nine free counselling sessions with a licensed counsellor. And there are similar programs in most other provinces across Canada, he notes.
“I’ve talked to folks that have said ‘well, you know what? It’s not that I need help. I just need to get over this, and things will improve.’ And sometimes it’s as simple as just having that one or two conversations with a therapist, with a counselor,” he says.
Check out our conversation below or listen in the RealAgriculture feed in any podcast app for some practical reminders for navigating the chaos and stress of a busy season, such as harvest:
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