Rural
25 July, 2024
'All's not well on the farm'
Primary producers are feeling overworked, underappreciated and anxious.
That's the warning from Australia’s most trusted agricultural charity, Rural Aid.
The organisation has been assisting farmers who have been "battling increased levels of mental ill-health in recent months", Rural Aid CEO John Warlters says.
“In a recent Rural Aid study, Pulse of the Paddock, one in two farmers said they’d felt their mental health decline in the past year,” Mr Warlters said.
“Seventy-six per cent of our farmers rated their mental health as poor, very poor or average.
“These numbers show that all is not well on the farm."
Mr Warlters pointed to the results of the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey as further evidence of a broadly pessimistic mindset.
“It’s a sentiment echoed across the industry," he said.
"Rabobank’s survey has shown farm confidence has plummeted in the past three months.”
Rural Aid mental health and wellbeing manager Myf Pitcher said weather conditions, biosecurity concerns and disaster recovery were among pressing issues on farmers’ minds.
“Our counselling team is making a really important difference every day," Mr Pitcher said.
"We've been all over the country supporting primary producers.
“From hay drops in South Australia to water tank deliveries in Western Australia and resilience and recovery conversations in Queensland, our mental health and wellbeing team have been working overtime to assist farmers with the challenges they’re currently facing.”
Mr Warlters said record dry conditions in the south and west of the country were proving especially difficult for farmers.
“Rural Aid has organised and executed a support drop of hay, stockfeed or emergency household drinking water at the rate of roughly one per day over the last four weeks," he said.
"The demand for hay in South Australia has been particularly strong.
“But, Rural Aid can’t do any of its vital work without the generosity of the Australian public, and tax time is a good time to consider a donation to Rural Aid.”
Mr Warlters said the charity appreciated every single dollar donated, by every supporter.
“Thank you to every person who has dug deep for our mates in the bush in their moment of need,” he said.
Details of Rural Aid's mental health and wellbeing program can be found on its website.
More information: www.ruralaid.org.au or 1300 327 624