Whining Or Frustration: Which Is It?

A farmer called after he read my article, "Why do farmers whine?" He was hurt and offended by my premise that farmers don’t have justifiable complaints. His call reminded me that farmers aren’t a monolithic group. Writing about one characteristic as if it was a universal truth for all farmers certainly overstated what might be a valid observation for some farmers.

Farming is stressful and the financial risks are significant. Farmers deal with the uncertainties with weather, marketing, cost of inputs, and the demands of managing and multi-tasking a complex business. My article was directed more to those successful farmers who enjoy prosperity, a good family life, love their rural lifestyle, and have all the basics for a happy life but who get bogged down with a mind set of finding fault and habitual nitpicking.

Life on the edge. My article was not sensitive to the subgroup of farmers who struggle to make ends meet. Their vocal complaints, not to be confused with whining, are expressions of frustration against unrelenting financial pressures and the stress of living life on the edge.

The money doesn’t stretch. Prices are outside of their control. The cost of inputs don’t recede when the prices go down. Interest on operating loans swallows too much of their profits. Life is like a treadmill in which the faster they run and the harder they work, the farther they seem to slip back. Second jobs and auxiliary businesses add to the stress level without making a big difference in income.

Many opportunities in farming come with the existing land base, lack of debt, and farming at a scale big enough for profitability. Where a farmer starts out makes a big difference. Success is built on previous generations hard work, astuteness, asset base and intergenerational cooperation and sacrifice. This provides a secure operating base from which expansion and risk are reasonable.

Without that base, getting ahead takes an awful lot of ingenuity and good fortune. Most of the time, it is a struggle to maintain rather than expand.

Emotions get involved. What is trying to be maintained? Attachment. Or should I say love? Attachment to land in the family. Attachment to family life and raising children on a farm. Building something together. Keeping the dream alive for children to farm some day. Satisfying relationships with family, friends and neighbors. Enjoyment of a rural lifestyle with a sense of community and caring for one another.

What is trying to be maintained? Identity. An occupational identity. A workday consisting of variety, visible accomplishment, and being one’s own boss that is inherently satisfying. A work ethic. A skill set that is comprehensive but not easily transferable to work other than operating your own business.

Farm economics. The past few years have been kind to grain farmers in particular though this year’s prices are not particularly great. It was easy to get caught up in the euphoria of good times and thinking all was

well in agriculture. Things are getting dicey again as prices drop and the present economic downturn takes its toll.

There is a crisis brewing. Not perhaps for the 70 percent or so who are secure but for the 30 percent in agriculture whose year-to-year struggle is wearing them out. There has been a disturbing uptick in farm related suicide deaths. There is more depression and hopelessness as the farm economy worsens.

The real pain though is felt by dairy farmers whose prices are way down. Livestock and hog producers struggle. Instead of benefitting from high grain prices, they suffer from them with higher feed costs. In addition, hog producers are facing loss of income due to trade barriers from Russia and china in reaction to the HINI flu virus and problems with oversupply. The prospects of farming and dealing with all the stress is not appealing to their children and the dream of succession goes down the drain. Marriages can be a cauldron of stress.

This is not whining, but despair, frustration and discouragement. I am sorry my article hit this segment of farmers with a low blow. Part of my writing career has been to document and tell the story of agriculture during hard times and how emotionally devastating it can be. I take pride in that.

Good times don’t last. Good times aren’t always good for everyone. For those who struggle, the pain is even greater during the good years. They feel alone. It is easy to blame themselves. They don’t feel understood and have a hard time communicating when so many are doing well.

They should speak up and when they do, they don’t want to be told they are whiners and complainers. Their problems are real.

Hard times don’t last either. There is a way to get through them. It is through faith, flexibility, a willingness to face and be open about problems. It is about communicating and reaching out. It is about getting help. It is about couples working and supporting each other.

It is about attitude and finding hope. Negativity, depression and anxiety (not whining) will not solve problems. It is about valuing self and gaining confidence that you are on a good path. It is knowing that people care.

Resources available. I have a book, "Honey, I Shrunk the Farm" written for farmers and ranchers facing financial pressure. Check this website on how to order a copy. 

I also have a booklet, "The Rural Stress Survival Guide", for $1.00 shipping and handling cost. Use my mailing address on my website.