Finding a better way to tackle growing health and injury concerns in an aging farm population is the goal of Australia’s Sustainable Farm Families program.
Susan Brumby, director of the National Centre for Farmer Health in Australia, detailed how the program is monitoring farmers in remote and rural regions at a recent Canadian Agricultural Safety Network conference in Vancouver.
She said farmers are aging in both Canada and Australia, with only 10 percent younger than 35. They also have higher rates of preventable injuries, illness, and suicide.
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“Rurals have a shorter life expectancy than urbans. We should be saying this is not satisfactory,” said Brumby.
The program identified occupational hazards, particularly among those working with animals, poor mental health, adverse climate and alcohol misuse that includes binge drinking.
Other issues included isolation, access to services, long days and diet and exercise challenges that included a limited access to fresh food and eating a lot of red meat because of its availability.
When farm data was compared with other workplaces in Australia, researchers found greater psychological stress and more obesity and weight issues in the farm population, along with high rates of heart disease, diabetes and lower life spans.
The perception is that farm families live in pristine conditions, she said, but the reality is they are exposed to many dangers and are in a high stress lifestyle, often at the mercy of the weather and markets.
The program began by involving local health officials, sports clubs, the Red Cross and an industry partner, which recruited farm families to participate in small group sessions, catered locally in local halls and offering child care.
“The program helps find health issues, which result in referrals, and persuade farmers to get to think about health, which should be seen as an investment in family, farm and self,” said Brumby.
It included a health assessment and a 30-minute session to report the results to the individual.
“It was a rude shock,” she said of people’s initial reactions.
Sessions also included relaxation therapy and grocery store tours, where participants learned how to read nutrition labels.
Families then set goals for what they would change by next year, when the assessment would be repeated and results compared.
Brumby said most changed their lifestyles and behaviours and showed improvements in health as a result.
“If we’ve got a workforce that’s aging, unwell and not getting appropriate health and medical attention, you understand it’s not sustainable, it can’t be,” she said.
“In terms of agricultural production, if your human resources aren’t well, you won’t be able to keep doing that.”
Brumby said the program has changed government policies and how people think about their well-being. It has also shown farmers how it helps their business.
