This issue focuses on farm health which is something that encompasses a wide range of things from mental health, physical health, and farm safety.
Most of us involved in agriculture are not the best at seeing a physician regularly and we let things go until it stops us, and we have to address the issue. I know several families that have been impacted by this very thing and sometimes the outcomes have not been the best. I am guilty of this myself because I don’t like to “find the time” to make a doctor appointment or I just hope the issue goes away on its own.
I do make sure I find the time for at least a once a year “wellness visit” and they check my fasting bloodwork because my family has a history of diabetes. They also check a bunch of other stuff and ask me if I need anything for arthritis pain or my irregular sleep schedule, and they also try to schedule some x-ray for whatever ongoing physical ailment they think I have.
I feel fortunate at my age that I am not taking any prescribed medications, but I do take plenty of supplements that were recommended by my chiropractor who also happens to be my daughter. She is pretty vocal about things I should be doing and taking and of course she is the one who forced me to urgent care when I had pneumonia. I am probably her worst patient, but she keeps after me.
Farm safety is something that is important, and I am probably the worst about that because I am comfortable around cattle. It is important to stay aware when working with livestock and not to get too distracted as that can lead to accidents. We handle a lot of show bulls and the majority of them are big teddy bears, but they are still bulls and you have to have a mutual respect with each other and be aware of their body language in certain situations.
We do not do any row crop farming, but we have a couple tractors and hay equipment. I have several friends involved in row crop farming that have been involved in various farming accidents, some serious and even fatal. Machinery makes me more nervous than livestock, but I know I had my kids on a tractor at a young age doing stuff because we can always use another hand on the farm. There are so many things to keep aware of when running farm equipment and vehicles and the likelihood of something happening increases when you have a PTO drive involved.
Mental health is a subject that is not talked about much in the agriculture community even though the stress of the day-to-day can take a toll on everybody involved. Spouses that lose a partner and dealing with the stressors that come with that. Youth that struggle with issues in school or shouldering the responsibilities of helping on the farm. Financial struggles, dealing with the unpredictable weather and loss of livestock and crops. All these things take a mental toll and I think much of the agriculture community just push through those tough times. There are many resources available to the agriculture community and sometimes just having someone to talk to can help you thru a tough time.
This is also the time of year to think about being weather aware. Do you or your family have a safety plan in place? On the farm, everyone can be in a different area at the same time and having a plan in place before a major weather event goes a long way in making sure everyone knows where to go. Having a go-bag with a few small items such as flashlights, water, snacks, and a small first-aid kit is a good idea to carry in a vehicle or tractor in case of severe weather. Farmers are always watching the skies for impending weather and rushing to get things done when it is on the way.
There are so many resources available out there to the agriculture community when it comes to farm safety and mental health. Being involved in agriculture is one of the most dangerous professions out there for various reasons. I hope we can all take some time to evaluate our surroundings and make sure that we are being proactive when it comes to health and safety so we can make sure the next generation of young agriculturists have us around to keep looking up to.
Debbie Elder is a native of Ottawa County, Okla. and lives on her farm in Webster County, Mo. To contact Debbie, call 1-866-532-1960 or by email at [email protected].
