Ontario Grain Farmer - September 2021

Cover story HARVEST IS THE most stressful time of the year on many farms. Pressure mounts as months of planning and hard work come to fruition and mature crops await the combine. The work itself is physically and mentally demanding and the deadlines can be tight. When long hours are combined with poor weather, equipment breakdowns, and other challenges, stress levels escalate and can have a negative and long-lasting impact on the health of those involved. While eliminating harvest stress may not be realistic, there are management strategies that can be employed to reduce and relieve it. In addition to seeking guidance from health professionals, farmers can learn from each other. KEVIN ARMSTRONG, WOODSTOCK Kevin Armstrong grows 800 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat with his father near Woodstock. Since they are a small team, Armstrong’s biggest source of stress during harvest is getting the job done when the window of opportunity is open. “When the weather is rainy, the first thing on your mind is that you’ve got a crop out there in the field ready to go. When it comes time that we are able to harvest, the main thing is being able to get enough done in a day that we’re satisfied with our progress,” he says. Ahead of the busy season, Armstrong, who is the director for Grain Farmers of Ontario’s District 7 (Waterloo, Oxford) and a member of the Board of Director’s Farmer Wellness committee, focuses on maintaining field and drying equipment so there is a lower chance of breakdowns once harvest begins. “Preparation is all in the maintenance and predicting what could be an upcoming problem,” he says. From the combine cab, Armstrong uses his phone to make a list of maintenance items that he wants to take a closer look at or may need to watch out for. He uses rainy days to work through the list as another way of preventing a future breakdown. On a personal note, purposely spending time away from the farm helps him to manage stress. Throughout the season he tries to engage in hobbies and spend time with his family on weekends. But even when the combine is rolling seven days a week, Armstrong is not afraid to take a quick trip to a local mountain biking trail when possible. “There are plenty of mental health resources out there, but each person has to find their individual way of coping,” he says. “Farmers have a sense of resiliency built into them but having somebody to reach out and talk to is fundamentally the most important thing you can do.” JUSTIN BELL, PETERBOROUGH Farming in two locations in addition to working a full-time job makes time management key for Justin Bell. He grows corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, and hay and milks 40 dairy cows on his 200 acre organic farm near Peterborough. He also works in agriculture finance and farms an additional 200 acres with his family near Chatham. “It can be hard to balance work and farming on a regular day,” he says. “Harvest stress is added on top of the day-to-day and when the weather is good, you feel like you have to give 120 per cent.” Like Armstrong, he tries to complete equipment maintenance ahead of time and usually takes vacation time from the bank to prepare. When stress is high, Bell finds the structure and routine of daily chores helps him to focus and feel more organized. “It doesn’t have to be milking cows and for some, it may be going for a run or always having dinner with your family,” he says. “It’s about having something that takes your concentration away from the new stress and adds some routine back into the craziness that a day can become.” Coping with seasonal stress HOW TO IMPROVE HEALTH AT HARVEST Rebecca Hannam continued on page 8 • Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of pressure or demand. • Nutrition, exercise, and sleep are crucial to your body functioning optimally. • Communicate with farming and non-farming family and friends during harvest to prevent social isolation. • Finding balance is important. Don’t let go of things that bring you joy, such as hobbies, even during exceptionally busy times. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 6