AGRIBUSINESS

Farmer input required for national mental wellbeing study

A national study is being conducted to look at farmer mental health and wellbeing.

Staff writer
 A national survey is being conducted to look into farmer mental health and wellbeing. Picture Mark Saunders.

A national survey is being conducted to look into farmer mental health and wellbeing. Picture Mark Saunders.

Commissioned by Norco (a farmer-owned dairy co-operative) and in partnership with the NFF, the purpose of the research is to better understand some of the key issues facing Australian farmers, particularly in light of recent natural disasters and fluctuating market conditions.

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report will also compare and contrast perspectives and experiences across farming sectors, regions and demographics, in order to help drive recommendation on how the sector, and Australians in general, can better support farmers.

Nearly 12 months on from the unprecedented flooding event that devastated the northern New South Wales town of Lismore and the co-operative's heartland, Norco chief executive, Michael Hampson, commented how important this body of work is, in order to truly quantify the impact of natural disasters on our nation's farmers.

"From droughts, bushfires and the more recent flooding events, our dairy farmers in particular have been doing it tough for many years now, and we know these experiences aren't exclusive to just our sector of farming," Hampson said.

"As a 100 per cent, farmer-owned co-operative, and Australia's last operating dairy co-operative, it is a core mission of ours to continuously support and deliver value to our farmers, and to identify ways that we can also help safeguard the future of our industry."

David Jochinke, NFF vice president, said how pleased they are to be able to partner with Norco on the initiative.

"As the peak national body representing farmers and the agricultural sector in Australia, this is an incredibly meaningful piece of work for us to be involved with and help drive," Jochinke said.

Taking approximately five minutes to complete, the survey is currently open until this Friday, 17 February. Australian farmers wanting to have their voices heard are encouraged to take part by accessing the survey here: http://bit.ly/3YS3ZAs

The findings of the survey will be published by the end of March this year.

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