NOKOMIS, Sask. - Canadian farmers are known for their resiliency and the optimism they find in the saying “there is always next year.” But hope is drying up as producers face record-high fuel costs and drastic delays in harvest. Darin Pedersen farms in central Saskatchewan, about 150 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon. Farming has always been his passion and at 61 years old, he hopes to do it until he turns 70. But this year has him rethinking those goals. “I told my wife, Sheri, a long time ago that when we quit having fun, we are done,” he said. “We are not having much fun anymore and it is getting stressful.” Pedersen started harvest a week ago, putting him three weeks behind schedule. Late-season rains delayed harvest for most of the province. The latest crop report shows only 41 per cent of crops are harvested in Saskatchewan, well below the five-year average of 82 per cent. Now, it is a race against the clock. Dewy mornings reduce the number of hours that farmers can be in the field and increase costs to dry the grain. Factoring in record-high diesel prices, astronomical input costs and degrading grain quality, Pedersen says it is a recipe for stress. “There is not a farmer out there that gives up,” he said. “It is just how do you manage it? How do you keep it together long enough to say, ‘We made it through another year?’” Pedersen’s advice is to talk to someone – a friend, family member, neighbour or professional. The Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health compiled a list of mental health resources for Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers. The supports are listed on magnets distributed across the province. Pedersen’s wife Sheri said it is a vital resource for farming families. “I have sent (a photo of it) to my husband three or four times this year and said, ‘I do not care which number you pick, just pick a number. You have to call somebody,’” she said. Farm Stress Line SaskAgMatters Mental Health Network has noticed a steady stream of calls to the Farm Stress Line, which is listed on the magnet, and an increase in counselling sessions over the last couple of months. “We’ve been receiving a lot of calls and, for the most part, they are pretty bleak,” SaskAgMatters executive director Alecia Weinheimer said. The Saskatchewan Farm Stress Line is accessible 24/7 to anyone who needs it, whether they are in crisis or just want to talk to someone about a challenging day in the field, according to Weinheimer. The group also provides six hours of free counselling sessions to farmers, their families and their employees. “We know that six hours of counselling is probably not enough, but it gets you in the door and it gets you talking,” Weinheimer said. Canadian farmers are twice as likely to die by suicide than the general public, according to Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. There is still a stigma in the agriculture industry around mental health, Weinheimer said, but more people are open to talking, especially the younger generation. SaskAgMatters is trying to bridge the gap between producers and mental health supports. Their therapists either come from a farming background or have training in the Canadian agriculture literacy program. The Saskatchewan Farm Stress Line can be reached 24/7 by calling 1-800-667-4442.
