9 in 10 farmers say they are more stressed
Stress, Said The From Due To Their Farms Source Was Who It Workload Three To Eight, A Of On Said In Ine Growing Been Had Reduced Pared 37%, Farming 38%
Nine out of ten farmers (91%) say their stress levels have increased in the last year, according to new research undertaken by FRS Farm Services.
Almost 500 farmers took part in the survey, which was run from August 28 to September 6, 2024.
More than half (54%) said they are currently experiencing ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ levels of stress when thinking about their farm, with increased input costs, growing workload and reduced incomes the most cited causes of stress over last year.
38% said their growing workload on farms had been a source of stress, compared to three in eight, 37%, who said it was due to the reduced income from farming, 30% said increased extreme weather conditions were a factor, and the same number said it was because they had less opportunity to take a break from the farm. Additionally, 29% said the additional paperwork demands on farmers were one of the causes of their increased stress levels.
Two in five respondents said their daily workload has grown, with the average Irish farmer now working 11 hours per day, with 36% saying they put in 12 hours or more into their farm on a daily basis.
Worryingly, 87% of those polled said they are concerned about their well-being. However, despite this, nine out of ten (90%) would still recommend a career in farming to others despite the stress levels involved.
Commenting on the findings, FRS Co-Op Group chief executive Colin Donnery said: “This has been a hard year for farmers across Ireland. The challenges have grown, and the pressure has increased. Our team members and operatives are working with farmers across the country every day, and we’re worried. We can see how much the levels of stress are rising on Irish farms.
“Everyone in the industry knows this, but this is one of those issues that can sometimes seem intangible. That was why we organised this survey. We wanted to put some figures together to showcase the extent of these concerns on Irish farms.
“It is also why at the National Ploughing Championships, our FRS stand will be putting a significant focus on Farm/ Life balance. We will have some talks on wellness and stress management, and we’ll have an expert available for one-on-one chats on the first day for anyone who feels they would like to talk to someone. We will also be providing some helpful guidance in the form of a handout to anyone who comes to our stand.
“We would also encourage any farmers who are feeling pressure and stress to reach out to us or others. There are many resources specially designed for farmers from different organisations aimed at improving health and well-being. We all need to be more mindful of what is going on in Irish farming and the pressures our farmers are facing."
