Everyone experiences stress, but for farmers and ranchers, stress has become a fact of life. Several forces are fueling it, including high supply costs, farm debt, changes in international trade policy, and weather-related damage from drought, severe storms with strong winds and hail, and wildfires.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress is your body’s physical and emotional response to new or challenging situations. Often, feelings of stress are a common coping response and can give one the ability to solve problems in a healthy way. When stress is long term, it becomes chronic, which can lead to worsening health problems such as disrupted sleep, headaches, stomachaches, trouble concentrating, difficulty making decisions, or increased use of alcohol or drugs.
Farming and ranching occupations are among the most stressful jobs in America, according to John Shutske, University of Wisconsin– Madison professor and extension specialist with over 30 years of experience working with the agricultural community. Shutske said stress is a double-edged sword — a little stress can serve as a constructive motivator, pushing us to action; however, too much stress can damage our health, compromise safety, and damage personal relationships. It reduces our capacity to consider and evaluate solutions to complex problems and can limit our power to make sound decisions.
