New research published by FRS Farm Services found that nine out of 10 farmers say that their stress levels have elevated in the last year, while a further seven out of eight farmers say they are concerned about their wellbeing.
The research also finds that 54% of farmers experience ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ levels of stress when thinking about their farms, while 51% of all farmers surveyed admit that increased costs associated with farming contribute to this.
Other causes of stress for farmers include:
- Growing workload on farms (38%);
- Reduced farm incomes (37%);
- Increased incidence of extreme weather conditions (30%);
- Fewer opportunities to take a break from farming (30%);
- Additional paperwork demands (29%).
Stress
The research was initiated by FRS Farm Services in response to the increased rate of stress levels observed by farmers to gain insight into the factors involved and consisted of a survey of 481 farmers which took place from August 28 to September 6, 2024.
FRS Farm Services will be in in attendance at the upcoming National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois, where they will promoting a ‘Focus on Farm/Life Balance’ awareness programme.
FRS Farm Services will issue handouts offering guidance for farmers to help mitigate stress levels and improve their overall sense of wellbeing.
Farmers will have the opportunity to have a one-on-one discussion with wellness expert, Tracy O’Connor, who will be on hand at the FRS Farm Services stand.
They will also hold talks on the importance of wellbeing and stress reduction aimed at farmers on the first day of the event, which will include breathing and grounding exercises, as well as tips on helping farmers to become more mindful.
The research also found that 42% of farmers claim that the average number of hours tolled on a farm has increased in the last year alone, with the average farmer working 11 hours per day, while an additional 36% reported that they employ an average of 12 hours or more on a daily basis.
Additionally, three hours is the average length of free time afforded to farmers on a daily basis aside from work, sleep and meals.
On a positive note, 97% of farmers say they experience job satisfaction from their work on a farm, and nine out of 10 would recommend a career in farming to others, despite the stress levels that it entails.
On top of this, 68% farmers report a good work/life balance, despite 27% claiming otherwise.
Speaking about the survey, group CEO of FRS Co-Op, Colin Donnery, said:
“This has been a hard year for farmers across Ireland. The challenges have grown and the pressure has increased. Our team members and operatives are working with farmers across the country every day and we’re worried.
“We can see how much the levels of stress are rising on Irish farms. Everyone in the industry knows this, but this is one of those issues that can sometimes seem intangible. That was why we organised this survey to showcase the extent of these concerns on Irish farms.
“We all need to be more mindful of what is going on in Irish farming and the pressures our farmers are facing.
“Stress can be invisible at times, but that doesn’t mean we all shouldn’t be looking out for anyone who may be suffering, no matter how well they try to hide it. As a community we all need to play our part.”
In light of the survey responses, FRS Farm Services is also seeking the farmer most in need of a week’s break from the farm and is encouraging people to nominate themselves, a family member or a friend, who they believe are deserving of that title.
Nominations can be made at the FRS Co-Op stand, Row 18, Stand 389 at the National Ploughing Championships.
The winning farmer will be awarded with an FRS Farm Services operator for a week, providing them an opportunity to take a break from farm management.