Flood damage, drought, a difficult and unpredictable agriculture environment — it can all add up to a heavy burden of stress. That’s why Avera created the Farm and Rural Stress Hotline. If you or someone you know just needs to talk, call this hotline for support. A compassionate mental health professional will answer, provide resources and help you manage whatever you’re experiencing, such as anxiety, depression or other behavioral health concerns.
Caring for Farmers, Ranchers & Rural Residents
Relentless weather. Machine breakdowns. Long hours away from family. It’s no wonder that folks who sit alone in tractors and feed livestock late into the night may struggle with mental health. Instead of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps, try asking for help when the going gets too tough to handle on your own.
Common Stressors
Even those with toughened hands and hearts need someone to talk to. Call the Farm and Rural Stress Hotline for help coping with common rural stressors like:
- A volatile ag environment
- Extreme weather conditions (floods, snow, storms)
- Farming equipment and machinery breakdowns
- Lonely, long hours that prevent time with family
- Lowered income due to loss of crops
- Machinery breakdowns and trade turmoil
- Rising expenses for fuel, feed and fertilizer
- Uncertain income and historic inflation
Harvest Season Safety
These safety rules can help prevent an accident, illness or death from occurring on the farm.
- Eat balanced meals and keep a jug of water with you to prevent hunger and dehydration.
- Avoid doing tasks alone, such as running an auger or filling a grain bin.
- Always carry your cell phone with you and keep it charged as much as possible.
- Slowly drive the perimeter of the field to note slopes, drop-offs, stumps and large rocks.
- When driving a tractor, take turns slowly. Don’t allow the tractor to bounce, which may cause you to lose control of steering.
- Ensure protective shields are in place before running an auger. Keep the floor around the auger swept clean of debris and fallen seed to prevent falls.
- Never enter a grain storage unit when grain is coming in from the sides or top. If you must enter a storage unit, wear a safety belt attached to safety lines.
When handling chemicals, always wear proper personal protective equipment, such as chemical-resistant gloves, overalls, masks and goggles.
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Child Farm Precautions
If your sons or daughters help on the family farm, assign them low-risk tasks that are also age appropriate. In other words, harvest may not allow you to properly supervise their work in more challenging tasks. Follow these rules to help keep your kids safe on the farm.
- When not in use, remove the keys on idle machinery and store them out of reach.
- Always make sure you know where kids are when backing up, and double check blind spots.
- Never leave an auger or wagon unattended. Remember, grain accidents happen fast and grain moves like quicksand.
- Know the dangers of pesticides, fertilizers, bleaches, fuels and other common chemicals used on the farm and make sure the containers with labels.
- Keep all toxic substances (including spigots, hoses, pumps, and rags) on high shelves in either a locked building or inaccessible area.
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