![]() |
Dr. Val Farmer | ||
Rural Mental Health & Family Relationships | |||
1. Farm CrisisLoginArticlesFarming: With Love Comes Pain (January 1998)
I have been privileged to learn about the psychology and soul of rural people, of farmers and ranchers who brave this variable and occasionally inhospitable land. They have shared their pain, their worry, their joy, their hopes and their dreams. Ive been privileged to be a witness to a special people in special circumstances and to tell their stories. Right from the beginning I stood in awe of the lives and values of farm families. This was unique, different from anything ... A Crisis On The Farm (February 1996)
The news is not good. Pork and meat prices have gone to the basement. There are record numbers of cattle and hogs yet to work their way through the system. The feed grain costs are high. The highly industrialized poultry industry is e Avoiding Burnout In Agriculture (December 1995)
Farmers typically put in longer hours than people in most other jobs or professions. David Kohl, an agricultural economist and lecturer from Virginia Tech at Blacksburg, Virginia, has a rule of thumb for when farmers work too hard. "If you Emotions Run High During Ag Crisis (January 1999)
Why is farming different from any other profession? Why do farmers have a harder time adjusting to the loss of their occupation more than others who are given a pick slip or lose a business? Observations On The Farm Crisis (July 1999)
I was recently interviewed by Sheldon Green and Jim Coomber of Concordia College for a future book on the farm crisis. Here is what I told them: I see a lot of people wearing out in farming. They are just even - staying on the treadmill. The common way of putting it is, "It's no fun any more." They understand it's not working and they would like to get out. The Most Vulnerable Farmers (September 1999)
This article explains why some farmers may be prone to suicide during times of economic downturn. There are certain risk factors that will help family members and neighbors identify farmers who are at risk for emotional problems. Factors that account for success during good times are the same qualities that work against a farmer facing catastrophic loss. Dr. Farmer's Best Advice On The Farm Crisis (September 1999)
During the farm crisis that is unfolding in America, Dr. Farmer draws on his experience in counseling farm families to give advice on how farm families can be constructive and cope effectively in the face of daunting challenges. |
|||