The silent issue making experts worry about Australia’s long-term food security

Farmers are the backbone of the Australian food industry, but mounting pressures are forcing some to reconsider their future in the agriculture sector.

More than 1000 farmers have laid bare the challenges of life on the land in the latest National Farmer Wellbeing Report, which was commissioned by dairy co-operative Norco and overseen by the Black Dog Institute.

Two-in-five farmers are considering leaving the industry due to financial pressure, workforce challenges, natural disasters, policy concerns and ongoing operational strain.

The findings have created uncertainty about Australia’s long-term food security.

Norco chief executive Michael Hampson said farmers produced about 90 per cent of the food consumed nationally, which meant a potential exodus would have “significant implications” for Australia.

“The report shows us that 41 per cent of farmers are considering leaving the industry,” Hampson said.

“This tells us that the future of Australian farming is absolutely in peril.

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“Let’s not forget industries can come and go.

“Forty-seven years ago, when we were defending whether or not you were a Holden or a Ford fan, there’s no one that would’ve said we wouldn’t have a car industry in this country.

“We do not make a single car here in Australia.

“Industries can die if we do not support them and we need to support our Aussie farmers now.”

Farmers encouraged to seek help

Farmers who took part in the survey reported worsening mental health over the past two years.

One-in-five farmers said they have experienced poor mental health and more than half of farmers have felt depressed or down.

One-in-seven experienced thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

A staggering 91 per cent of respondents revealed they felt undervalued by the Australian public.

Queensland farmer Ross Blanch, who has spent 50 years in the dairy industry and 30 years as a crisis line worker at Lifeline, has seen the challenges of farmers first-hand.

This experience motivated him to create the free and confidential counselling service Farmer to Farmer.

“It was back in the drought seven years ago that I noticed farmers really struggling,” he said.

“It was a really bad case at a cattle sale that made me take on more of an active role in supporting farmers that were struggling.

“I had to reach out to my Lifeline bosses to do the farm [counselling] work, and we were able to set up the Farmer to Farmer program, which encourages farmers to speak to fellow farmers.

“All of us on the Farmer to Farmer program are farmers, we can relate and they can relate to us because of the farmer language and the experiences that we’ve all been through.”

He has also noticed the pressures often felt by young farmers to carry on the family legacy.

“Some of the stories I hear from the younger generation, they’re so worried about making it no matter what,” he said.

“They don’t want to be the generation that fails.

“I say, ‘Look, you can only do what you can do.’”

Blanch said farmers were often reluctant to seek help and needed to be pushed.

He is encouraging family, friends and neighbours to look out for each other.

“It can be droughts and floods, but it can be other issues,” he said.

“It could be health issues, then it leads to a breakdown in their mental health.

“Unfortunately, the farmers have a poor ability of responding to help.

“So it sometimes takes a neighbour or someone else that’s been helped previously that comes to the rescue and encourages them to seek out help.”

He stressed the importance of connection and encouraged those in the city to reach out to their loved ones in the country.

“Ring them, have a chat and ask them how they’re going,” he said.

“That is like gold to them.”

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).