When you are planted in a remote rural area, or are far away from city friends, you must be very intentional about creating a new life that aligns with your values and goals.

Froese: Help for lonely hearts

For many young women, moving away to join farms far from home can be really difficult. Here are some tips that can help

I received a lengthy LinkedIn message from a woman concerned about her farming daughter who lives six hours south, far away from her former life in the city. It strikes a chord with me as I recall the teary eyes of young female agricultural leaders who express sadness at their lack of emotional support for […] Read more


“It’s no different than hauling out the equipment prior to seeding or harvest — making sure that everything (within) your ability looks good and that there’s not a belt about to break or oils that haven’t been changed.” – Megz Reynolds.

Clear, actionable steps to support mental health

Start today to build your mental health resiliency

Mental health is starting to get the attention it needs in agriculture, but the statistics continue to be worrying. According to a 2018 study by the University of Guelph, 35 per cent of farmers meet the classification for depression, 58 per cent meet the classification for anxiety and 68 per cent are more susceptible to […] Read more

Editor’s Column: Is this a farmer mental health movement?

In 2019, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food released the results of its study looking at the issue of mental health in the agriculture sector. The report, “Mental Health: A Priority for Our Farmers,” included 10 recommendations to better prevent the onset of mental health problems in Canadian farmers and better support those who […] Read more


Tune in to your mental health

Tune in to your mental health

Wellness expert says now is the time to take a hard look at the state of your mental health

The awareness of stress and the importance of dealing with it effectively has never been higher in Canadian agriculture, with lots of dedicated resources now available to farmers. Many ag conferences are also now addressing the important issue of how to foster mental health among Canada’s farmers. An example of that is the “Optimizing Wellness […] Read more

Regulate your nervous system

Regulate your nervous system

Fit to Farm: Turns out “shaking it off” can really help if you’re feeling stressed out

Nervous system regulation is becoming a common term nowadays when discussing emotional and physical well-being. To best understand what nervous system regulation means, we first need a basic understanding of how our nervous system works. The nervous system as a whole is essentially our biological operating system. It controls our biological functions, movements, sensations and […] Read more



Farmers face a number of uncontrollable factors that can lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, even suicide. (Eclipse_images/E+/Getty Images)

Free mental health training, workshops offered for farmers

Do More Ag Foundation expands programming available

Farmers seeking mental health support will have access to free training and community workshops for the fourth year in a row via the Do More Agriculture Foundation (DMAF) and Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Factors such as financial insecurity, uncontrollable weather and isolating working conditions contribute to high depression, anxiety and suicide rates among farmers, according […] Read more


How to build your resilience

How to build your resilience

When it comes to your mental health, resilience is an important skill to develop. Here’s why and how

Farming can exact a heavy emotional toll on even the hardiest of souls. Between dealing with volatile markets, extreme weather and long hours of work, often in isolated conditions, it’s no surprise Canadian farmers suffer higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general public. A University of Guelph study surveyed 1,132 Canadian farmers between […] Read more