Talk Saves Lives

Did you know that people working in agriculture are on the list for being the highest risk for suicide?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, people working in agriculture, which includes farmers,farm laborers,ranchers,fishermen and lumber harvesters, take their lives at a higher rate than any other occupation.  I did not realize this until  listening to a presentation at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women's Leadership conference earlier this month.



Suicide. It's not anything I want to really think about or talk about but it is a reality that I want to understand and learn how to help myself, my family and my friends. Suicide is a health issue. It can be the result of a genetic risk, depression, prolonged stress or a combination of these factors.

It's easy to see why farmers are at high risk for suicide.According to Mike Rosman, an Iowa farmer and psychologist who has dedicated a great part of his life to helping farmers in crisis states," people engaged in farming have a strong urge to supply essentials for human life, such as food and materials for clothing,shelter, fuel and to hang on to their land and other resources needed to produce these goods at all cost. When farmers can't fulfill  this purpose, they feel despair. The drive that makes a farmer successful is the same that increases factors that sometimes lead to suicide."

We never really know how others may be thinking or feeling but if you are aware of changes in how they are talking, behaving or exhibiting increased moodiness, it's time to talk. It's been found that --Talk Saves Lives.

 During these stressful times for those of us involved in agriculture or any other occupation, it's critical to make mental health a priority. Self care strengthens our mental health. Make a point to get exercise,  the proper amount of sleep, consume a healthy diet and manage  stress. When things just don't seem right--see a doctor, get an evaluation, discuss treatment options and find what works best for you.

It's never too late to reach out for help. Talk Saves Lives.

You can find help by  contacting  the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or
use the crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

We kicked off our Benton County Farm Bureau membership drive this week  with the 

signing of a proclamation by Benton County Judge Barry Moerhing to declare

 February 5-9 Farm Bureau Week.

I'm thankful to serve in an organization  that 

promotes and educates about agriculture 

and 

works for all citizens through legislative activities that impact

 our everyday lives in the city, the county 

or

                                                                down on the dairy farm.

Farms and Friends

A crane is not part of our dairy  farming operation but we were happy to see our friend and his crane   this morning after the axle under our feed wagon broke as the loaded wagon was moving towards the barn to feed the cows. Although this is a bad situation, we were very fortunate that no one was injured and that we have a friend that owns a crane and was willing to help us get it pulled up right so that it can be repaired.

 

 

Before the crane had set the mixing wagon upright, the boys were hooking up another friend's mixer wagon so that our cows could be fed.

 

Our cows definitely appreciated our friend's willingness to let us borrow the wagon.

They never missed a bite of nutritious feed!

 

 

 

If our days were always trouble free, we would miss out on these opportunities to appreciate the friendships we have in our farming community!

Rural Meets Urban On the Farm

Rural met urban tonight at a Benton County Quorum Court meeting. It's neither the first nor the last time for situations to occur in our rapidly growing county that will have a great impact on our agricultural community. Tonight's issue is the small farming community of Hiwassee fighting against the proposed annexation of their community into the larger city of Bella Vista.  This annexation would take in approximately 6000 acres of agricultural land.

As I listened to a member of our Benton County Farm Bureau Board present reasons we oppose this annexation for this agricultural community, I thought about the rich agricultural history of Benton County. In the 1920's, we  were listed as the number one apple growing county in the nation. When the apple industry declined, the poultry industry began with a farmwife raising a backyard chicken. Today Benton County is second in the state in poultry production and Arkansas ranks second nationally in poultry production.

More than 100 farm families make their living from raising poultry and cattle in this proposed area of annexation. After reviewing the proposed annexation, Arkansas Farm Bureau states that it believes the new regulations placed on this small agricultural community by the city would be detrimental and quite possibly devastating to their ability to maintain or expand their current farm while potentially decreasing the value of their land. Landowners and farmers will also be faced with additional costs to improve their land because of a more restrictive and expensive permitting process.

It's my hope that the citizens of Bella Vista will consider the importance of this agricultural community to our county and the long range plan of food production for our nation. The question  for all of us--rural and urban--where will our food be produced?