As a kid, I clearly remember my dad saying, “How can I be out of money, I still have check blanks!”  I realize he was joking but, in many ways, farmers aren’t making a lot of financial jokes these days. The American Bankers Association has stated that only 58% of US farms will be profitable in 2024.  (Farm Journal, December 2024) This is a fast drop since the highest point of farm income in 2022.  How are farmers and ranchers coping with such swings? The answer is not well, in many cases. 

You’re not alone: Seeing the statistics immediately reminds us, no one is alone in the current disheartening financial climate.  No matter the size of your operation, you’re feeling these impacts. Margins are tight, input costs have soared, and no one is excited about present commodity prices.  

What does all of this do to our mental health? We worry.  We worry about what to pay or who to pay. Which creditor is considered most important? How do you judge which one is more important?  When living in a rural community, no one wants to be classified as “that person who never pays on time”. We have not only tied our livelihood to farming, but we’ve also staked our reputation on it. When farming lets us down, we feel as though we’re letting down many around us.  

Low self-esteem.  When we struggle financially, we feel as though we’re letting ourselves down and others.  We feel as though we’re not successful.  Those black thoughts can lead us to a downward spiral.  We feel less motivated and as though we can’t move ahead.  Low self-esteem and financial stress go hand in hand. 

Sleep disruptions.  What keeps you up at night? I hear that question a lot in sales.  The real answer is worry and anxiety.  When our minds don’t shut down because of our worry over impending bills, anxiety over large purchases or fear of lost wages, we cannot sleep.  Lack of sleep takes us out of a sleep cycle where we get a deep rest which not only quiets our minds but allows our bodies to recover.  Long days, particularly long physical days, mean we need time to let our body relax.  When we don’t, we are in a constant state of aches, pains and even panic.  

A lack of sleep allows our minds to wander into black thoughts and more anxiety.  We are nervous now because we can’t sleep, we make poor decisions because we’re not thinking clearly which a mind doesn’t do without good sleep.  Quality sleep is vital to our problem solving, mental health and physical health. 

Self-medicating. A lack of sleep or the urge to stop the spinning worries within our own heads can lead us to choosing to self-medicate in many ways.  We can justify it in several ways such as: 

• Just one beer to calm myself. 
• I know it’s 4 pm but I’ve already had a long day.  A drink won’t hurt. 
• I’m just driving this tractor and planter in the field.  I can have a drink. 
• It’s my tractor.  I’ll smoke here if I want to. 
• These gummies are great! I don’t feel anything right now! Let’s get these cattle worked! 

Alcohol consumption in ag is common.  We use it to celebrate when times are bad or simply to get us through our days. When we self-medicate, we incite the numbness we want to quiet our minds or physical pain.  But it can put others in jeopardy. 

If you’re working on a farm or an agribusiness operation with others and are self-medicating to feel better, does it dim your senses? Does it put you in a careless state that could affect the safety of those around? Especially if you have children working with you? 

Take a moment and consider if your substance consumption is impacting your behaviour or operation.  Many farmers have decided that liquor made them someone they didn’t want to be, and they changed their habits.  You can too! Most importantly, I have a list of 5 different farmers who would talk with you about it and help you make the right decision for you.  

Our physical health suffers too. Stress can lead to overeating, unhealthy eating, skipping meals and a lack of exercise. When coupled with financial anxiety, we truly feel ill.  The first step to overcoming all of this is being conscious of what we’re doing.  Each time we pick up a cookie, ask yourself if you’re truly hungry or if it’s the anxious feeling in the pit of your stomach.  Can you feel better with a glass of water and a deep breath? I’ll be honest, I’d choose the Oreo first, but if I think about it, I can hold back! 

Everything we talked about today is up to you.  There are people and resources waiting to be of service to you.  It’s #OkToNotBeOk and if you want to make changes, so many others are waiting to help you do it! 

Takeaways: 

• You’re not alone in your financial worry. 
• Talk with your lender, professionals and friends to find solutions to your concerns. 
• If finances are no longer viable, you can consider not farming or ranching. 
• #ItsOkToNotBeOk

Bridgette Readel, farm kid extraordinaire and passionate agronomist.  She and her husband, Randy, are both heavily involved in agriculture. Often, you’ll find her teaching adults about production agriculture. She truly enjoys sharing the bright and positive message of agriculture in North Dakota. Bridgette is the Ag Director for The Flag Family Media in Fargo, ND, a partner in the AgMafia, and the owner of Lilac Lane Media. She co-hosts The Rural Well podcast with NFMHA’s own Lauren Van Ewyk! 

website: www.lilaclanemedia.com
Twitter: @bmreadel  
Instagram/FaceBook: BridgetteReadel