Reading Time: 6 minutes The struggle to find work-life balance may be “the single most important thing in your life to get right,” says Weyburn, Sask. farmer, Jake Leguee. “It’s also one of the hardest things any of us will ever do.” Farming presents unique challenges for achieving work-life balance. While technologies like robotic milkers and birthing cameras in […] Read more
Target: work-life balance
Life can be better. Even on the farm, real balance can be achieved
Summer Series: Stress in a volatile world
[Change Management] When the world spins so erratically, can you stop yourself spinning too?
Reading Time: 4 minutes “There is nothing left in the tank,” says Beverly Beuermann-King. She sees it regularly. “People get tapped out … One more thing can throw them over the edge.” The phenomenon is what Beuermann-King works on as a resiliency and stress expert, and even if that sounds like a trendy new specialism it has actually been […] Read more
Survey to look at farm stress from Alberta angle
Study to explore farmers' levels of resilience against stress
Reading Time: < 1 minute Researchers from the University of Alberta and AgKnow, the province’s farmer mental health network, are looking to build up Alberta-specific data on farming stress, mental health and well-being, and the ways in which farmers cope. They study team is “looking for farmers, ranchers, or anyone who works or lives on a farm” to participate, researchers […] Read more
The business of mental health
Sick of the stress? These business practices are showing they’re good for the farm, and for you
Reading Time: 8 minutes Sure, farmers are tough. They have to be. How could they not know it? They’re told about it from the time they’re kids, raised with the knowledge they will face high levels of stress from unpredictable weather, soaring input costs, supply chain interruptions and so much more, all of it on top of a non-stop […] Read more
Guide Health: Cold sores — why don’t they just go away?
Early treatment will give you better control
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cold sores, technically knows as herpes labialis, are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. (Note: it is herpes simplex virus type 2 that is responsible for genital herpes infections). Across Canada, 90 per cent of us are exposed to herpes infection by the time we reach adulthood, although only 20 to 40 per cent […] Read more
Free mental health training, workshops offered for farmers
Do More Ag Foundation expands programming available
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers seeking mental health support will have access to free training and community workshops for the fourth year in a row via the Do More Agriculture Foundation (DMAF) and Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Factors such as financial insecurity, uncontrollable weather and isolating working conditions contribute to high depression, anxiety and suicide rates among farmers, according […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Timely rains benefitting Saskatchewan crops
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — As with crops across the Prairies, pulses in Saskatchewan got a much timely shot in the arm with recent rainfall, according to Carl Potts, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. “I think pulse crops have benefitted from the rains we’ve had over the last two or three weeks here in the province,” he […] Read more
U.S. grains: Hot, dry weather view sparks rallies
Corn, soybeans, wheats up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rallied on Tuesday, supported by concerns that crops will face stress from adverse weather during the next few weeks. “The grains exploded out of the gates last night and remain double-digits higher… as forecasts turn hot and dry through mid-month,” Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist […] Read more
Find time for self-care
If it seems you haven’t a moment for your physical and mental health, read this
Reading Time: 5 minutes We all read the headlines. We know that self-care can make it easier to cope with high levels of stress. But too often, we feel we are already stretched so thin, it would only make matters worse if we stopped what needs doing and spent any time on self-care. To get some tips and tools […] Read more
Report links business management, mental health of farmers
Farm women, young farmers report higher levels of stress, difficulties coping
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa — A new report from Farm Management Canada (FMC) calls for action after determining 75 per cent of Canadian farmers reported being moderately to highly stressed about unpredictable interference, workload pressure and financial pressures. But how a farmer plans his or her business — and associated risks — can help lower that statistic. The […] Read more