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Stress and Farming

Fielding the Pressure: Digging Deep for Farmer Well-being. This article focuses on recognizing farm stress, managing its effects, and avoiding entrapments.

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Updated:

September 18, 2025

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Man holding child in a corn field. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

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About the Series

Greetings, farmers and farm families! We understand the unique challenges you face every day and we're here to help. Penn State Extension offers insights and strategies for implementing important safety protocols. We also provide advice and techniques to support your personal health and wellness.

Let's face it. Stress is a fact of life for everyone. However, farmers deal with unique and often overwhelming challenges—equipment breakdowns, family disagreements, unpredictable weather, and financial problems. There's a lot that can and does go wrong.

And when something isn't going well, you begin to feel increased pressure and stress. As that pressure builds, stress turns into distress. You begin to feel hopeless and helpless (Michigan State University Extension, 2020). And the cycle of despair continues until you do something to change it.

We want to offer you some ways to break the cycle in this series. We will show you how to take charge of your mindset and maintain a healthy body and mind. Some things are small but useful, like quick relaxation practices. Others are more involved but can offer lasting benefits, like listening to our podcast episodes and practicing safety tips.

We want to emphasize that seeking assistance is a strength, and offering support to someone facing challenges is a positive action. Farming is a community. We are stronger together. It's not just about continuing a lifestyle; it's about saving lives, one conversation at a time.

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Aches and pains
Inability to relax
Nervousness
Short temper
Shortness of Breath
Frequent Forgetfulness
Frustration
Constant tiredness

(Source: Windon et al., n.d.)

Field Stories: Confronting Stress

Chuck and Betty are farmers from Juniata County. Because they both work other full-time jobs, communicating and delegating farm tasks are important.

When things get busy or one gets frustrated, they tag team on projects "so we can back each other up and take turns on being the lead," they say.

They agree it's challenging to ask for and accept help from neighbors and friends. But they also recognize that helping each other is how their community of farms can be successful.

Strategy: Deep Breathing

Deep breathing techniques offer a quick and effective method to alleviate stress.
Let’s try it.

Note your current breathing pattern.
Breathe naturally for a few moments by inhaling through your
nose and exhaling through your mouth.
Feel the rise and fall of your belly and chest with each breath.
Continue this process for one minute.
Repeat as needed.

(Source: Windon, Plaza, and Robotham, n.d.)

Safety First

Entrapment can happen during grain unloading. It occurs when people enter bins to break up crusted or frozen grain, which puts them at risk of being trapped while the equipment runs.

Ways to Avoid the Following Entrapments:

Grain Bridging

Harvesting the grain at the proper moisture content is the first step toward reducing the risk of a grain bridge. When harvested in suboptimal conditions, grain can mold and harden on the surface. This creates a cavity below and forms a grain bridge. To dislodge a grain bridge, use a long pole through an access hole outside the bin.

Grain Wall Avalanche

Grain storage at the proper moisture level is the first defense against grain crusting to the side wall of the grain bin. If the wall is higher than the worker, an avalanche may occur as they try to break up the crusted grain barrier. Work from the top to the bottom of the bin to dislodge grain.

Grain Vacuum

If the grain vacuum nozzle has fallen into the grain, shut down the power source before trying to retrieve it. This reduces the risk of entrapment.

For More Information

Call

AgriStress Helpline: 833-897-2474 (24/7).
National Suicide Hotline: 988.
Rural Response Hotline: 800-464-0258 Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free personal counseling and financial/legal services.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).