Planting season, growers working on their fields and getting their spring planted, crop seed and inputs into the ground. David Brown of Iowa State University Extension is among those who understand a farmer’s planting season is much like harvest time in that: “I know they’re putting in long hours.”
Long hours, contributing to a lack of sleep and relaxation, are one of several factors that add to stress for the individual. Brown also acknowledges that during planting season, there may not be much opportunity for rest, yet there are strategies that can help growers regarding reduction of fatigue and stress.
For starters, “Try to build in short breaks whatever you’re doing, try to take a little short walk.”
Getting as much sleep as possible, regardless of the circumstances of the field and farm, indeed is important even during busy times like planting and harvest. When there is downtime, Brown suggests taking a few minutes for relaxation in the form of deep breathing, exercise, prayer or meditation.
“Try to focus on when you have that time. Do your go-to thing that helps you relax. What is that one item that you can rely on when you have that little bit of downtime, that you can relax?”
Another tip in longer periods of downtime, if there is a particular hobby of interest and enjoyment, Brown says that can assist in relaxation, as social interaction is also a stress-reduction strategy.
“Who can you talk to? Who can you socialize during the time, those off hours when you can actually get out and about, who can you socialize with?”
Brown adds there are several resources available to producers in the way of stress-reduction techniques and strategies.
“Any of the extension services across the nation have farm stress websites. You miss, Mike, go to farm stress, and many of them have a lot of different items to talk about.”
Also available are several farm stress hotlines for growers to call if they need resources or just someone to talk to, including those through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, a collaboration of regional networks operated by land-grant universities with support from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture