In the heart of the country, a farmer pants laboriously. As the day winds down, he sports calloused hands and grass-stained denim. A chill bites in the air, piercing to the bone. His mind is a whirlwind; pictures of the brittle soil and decaying machinery left to him. Mere months before, the sudden death of his father obliterated the world as he knew it. The memory resurfaces, making his chest tight. As the sun sinks below the distant horizon, his work will not cease; his mother, his home, his very reality relies on him assuming the responsibility. He cannot disparage his father’s memory. He cannot fail. 

     Across the lane, separated only by concrete and treelines, a young couple stares at their dining room table. Upon it rests a single piece of paper: a bill. Simple in theory, yet catastrophic in value. They understood the cost of their bold undertaking; building a farm from the ground up is no small feat. Buying land and equipment required many visits to their local bank. Their loan officer had flashed them an easy smile, assuring them of the profit to be found in farming. The investment would be worth it. As the “investment” stared them in the face, it ended in many unexpected zeros. A few rooms over, their baby begins to fuss, as if she can sense the despair radiating from her overwhelmed parents. 

     Farming is an immensely difficult occupation. Imagine a position in which the majority of your livelihood is fixated upon outside factors. A drought can cause your savings account to wither. A machine sputters out, and suddenly an enormous bill is to be delivered in your near future. These sources of stress are out of a farmer’s control, which can brew a storm of uncertainty and fear. 

     Generational farming comes with a unique array of obstacles. By interviewing descendants of generational farms, I was informed of issues including outdated machinery, decomposing materials, such as barns and fences, and even inheritance issues within feuding families. Specifically, century farms, defined as being owned and farmed by the same family for excess of 100 years, are disappearing (Adams). Families all over the country are being threatened with encroaching urban development and other pressing issues. Descendants are more unwilling to take on the daunting task of production agriculture. These plots are more than seeds and soil; they’re history. (Adams) Generational farms like these come with a backlog of ancestors and immense pressure. Imagine facing a family emergency and suddenly being thrust into a world unknown. You’re responsible for maintaining the family legacy. Suddenly, it's as if you're drowning in a pool of blood, sweat, and tears. 

     Similarly, first-generation farmers face a multitude of hardships. Materially, the financial burden is nearly unfathomable. According to AcreTrader, “Over the last 20 years, the price of farmland per acre in Missouri has risen by an average of 6% per year” ("Missouri Agriculture Overview”). In addition, staple machinery, such as tractors, cost thousands. According to Heavy Equipment Appraisal: “The average tractor cost ranges between $25,000 and $100,000…” (Crites). When attempting to establish a farm, everything from land to machinery to livestock carry lengthy price tags. For a first-generation farmer, just starting to produce can force a family into a debt-ridden sinkhole. 

     Furthermore, one must consider the idea of a foundation. Generational descendants receive an established farm, likely with included machinery, resources, and skills honed from years in the fields. Many beginning farmers start with limited knowledge, extensive loans, and a dream. 

     However, the most alarming point is the health-related issues regarding first-generation farmers. Georgia's Rural Health Innovation Center conducted a study on the stress and suicide levels from first-generation to generational farmers. They found:

Almost half of the first-generation farmers (46%) think about dying by suicide at least once a month or more often, compared to 11.6% of the generational farmers. Finally, an alarming 9% of first-generation farmers are thinking of dying by suicide daily, compared to less than a percent of generational farmers (“First-Generation Farmers Stress”). 

Whether it be a daring young soul or an experienced descendant, all farmers assume risk from their profession. Agriculture is vital to rural and urban communities alike; these struggling souls are quite literally feeding the world. Both perspectives experience immense stress and face deafening obstacles. As members of these communities, we are tasked with advocation. 

     In the battle against mental illness, we are facing invisible enemies. A protest cannot ease anxiety, nor can the police arrest suicidal thoughts. So, what can we do to help struggling farmers? 

     We must wield our most powerful weapon: our voices. 

     Raising awareness around the struggles of all mental health is dire to dissolve the societal stigma. We must be willing to address the obstacles farmers face; from money to feuds to invading dark thoughts. 

     In any community, concrete ways to advocate for farmers include: social media awareness campaigns, offering resources like the Missouri Agristress Hotline (833.897.2474), and even establishing farmer support groups, such as Jeff Ditzenberger’s TUGS (Talking, Understanding, Growing, Supporting). After surviving his suicide attempt, the former farmer founded TUGS to “emphasize peer connection and support” and stress the fact that “it’s OK to not be OK” (TUGS Group).

     But advocation is more than words. The smallest actions can bring astounding consequences. Ask yourself: Who am I voting for? What policies will they pass, and how will farms be impacted? What groups am I donating to? What media can I spread to impact my community? Where can I volunteer or offer help and support to farmers in need? How can I strengthen my agricultural literacy?

     Being the providers of our country, farmers face an array of complex and stress-inducing issues every single day. For first-generation farmers, it may be crippling debt or persistent mental illness. For generational farmers, it could be immense pressure from their bloodline or outdated resources. For someone like me, an outsider looking in, I cannot dare to judge who has it harder. Instead, I pose the question: how are you making it easier?

References

Adams, N. (2010). Century farms: A slice of history threatened. NPR. Retrieved November 5, 2024 from https://www.npr.org/2010/09/07/129702403/century-farms-a-slice-of-history-threatened. 

Missouri agriculture overview. (2019). Acretrader. Retrieved November 5, 2024 from https://acretrader.com/resources/missouri-farmland-prices

GRHIC study finds first-generation farmers experience higher stress levels than generational farmers. (2023) Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center. Retrieved November 5, 2024 from https://www.georgiaruralhealth.org/blog/grhic-study-finds-first-generation-farmers-experience-higher-stress-levels-than-generational-farmers/

Crites, R. (2024). How much do tractors cost? Heavy Equipment Appraisal. Retrieved November 5, 2024 from https://heavyequipmentappraisal.com/how-much-do-tractors-cost/

Who are we? (2020) TUGS. Retrieved November 7, 2024 from https://tugsgroup.org/who-we-are/

Feeling off? Find help here. Missouri Department of Agriculture. Retrieved November 8, 2024 from https://agriculture.mo.gov/stress.php