In the bucolic fields north of Reno, Nevada, Zach Cannady, the owner of Prema Farms, casts a hopeful glance at the unexpected rain shower. As drops fall from the cloudy sky, a smile creeps onto his face. The rain is a blessing for his diverse crop farm, which boasts a vibrant array of produce, from carrots and kale to peppers and melons.
Prema Farms, nestled in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, has enjoyed robust harvests recently, thanks to wetter winters and more frequent rain. Yet, Cannady, a family man, knows the precarious nature of farming all too well.
“Our lives are at the whim of nature,” he reflects. “It leans on you and asks you, ‘Do you want to keep doing this? Or are you prepared for another season of loss? Or can you even handle that financially?'”
Such questions have haunted Cannady, especially in 2019 when a wildfire threatened his property, forcing his family to evacuate. The same ordeal repeated in 2021 when another wildfire enveloped their farm in dense smoke for over a month. In the aftermath, certain crops failed to yield, including an entire field of onions, amounting to a significant financial setback.
Wildfires and extreme weather-induced anxiety are just a fraction of the mental health challenges afflicting farmers. According to a recent study led by the University of Nevada, Reno, financial pressures from rising production costs, the relentless workload affecting work-life balance, and family issues compound the stress faced by farmers.
The study surveyed agricultural producers across multiple Western states, including Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. “We’re in a situation where the farmer-rancher suicide rate is six times higher than the general population,” reveals Brenda Freeman, a counseling professor who co-authored the study. “And the Western states, including Nevada, have the highest suicide mortality rates in the nation.”
The study seeks to change the prevailing mindset among farmers, where stress is normalized as an inherent part of the profession. Freeman highlights that farmers and ranchers tend to accept stress as a given: “Of course, you’re going to have drought and pests and problems. We’re farmers – that’s what we do.”
The study identifies a clear desire among farmers for improved access to mental health resources and programs. They express a preference for mental health education over counseling, with an emphasis on topics like grief and loss, alcohol and drug cessation, and financial planning.
Freeman underscores that the study aligns with broader efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support Western farmers and ranchers. This initiative comes as farm debt continues to rise year after year, presenting a looming threat to producers.
Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, emphasizes the significance of seeking help when mental health is suffering. He underscores that there’s no shame in seeking support, as many experts are available to lend a listening ear and a helping hand.
Back on Prema Farms, as Cannady tends to his soil for planting, the unexpected rain brings relief, but lightning, a common precursor to wildfires in the West, triggers anxiety. Memories of previous blazes encroaching on his property linger, causing moments of PTSD-like distress.
Cannady hopes to navigate this wildfire season unscathed and welcomes the occasional rainy day, a reminder that nature’s whims can bring both challenges and blessings to the world of farming.
