PTSD was first recognized as a condition that affected some war veterans. Later, it was learned that PTSD can be caused by any number of traumatic events, such as a car accident, natural disaster, near-death experience, or other isolated acts of violence or abuse.

Stress management is an essential business skill in today’s agriculture. As a farmer, you have a responsibility to maintain your mental and physical health just like you have a responsibility to maintain your farm equipment.

Stress is everywhere. It’s a part of life, from breakdowns, financial struggles, the weather, relationship issues, and isolation that often lead to stress. Stress can become problematic when it makes us feel overwhelmed or continues for a long time.

Big dreams – big goals – long waiting times. Ever find yourself in a pattern of waiting for happiness at the end of another rainbow? In this episode we talk to Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist for UW Madison, Division of Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability and Serge Koenig, a Conservation Technician in Sauk County. Serge and Joy remind us that it’s those small, daily goals that bring us satisfaction everyday and help us feel that sense of accomplishment.

Did you ever find yourself in the middle of your worst day? Sometimes life provides us with moments to respond or react and we have to choose. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Paul Fricke, Professor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at UW Madison and Sue Sharp, the owner of Driftless Life Coaching. Sue and Paul share with us their own “oh no” moments to help highlight opportunities that come when we pause and reappraise situations so that we can respond in ways that help us learn and grow.

Compassion is a powerful way we connect with others – but how often do we extend it to ourselves when we really need it? Not often enough. In this session we talk with Amanda Coorough, Health and Wellbeing Educator, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Division of Extension and Shawn Monson, Program Coordinator, Farmwell Wisconsin, a service of Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program. They not only share with us why self compassion is so important to our well-being, but they provide examples of how self compassion can be a source of strength in very difficult times.

Taking a moment to appreciate the simple things in life not only helps us stay safe, but keeps us rooted in the present and allows us to plan for a better, less stressful future. In this episode we speak with Dr. Larissa Duncan, State Specialist for Health & Well-Being at the Division of Extension and Faculty at University of Wisconsin – Madison and David Unbehaun, a Richland County farmer whose family has been on the land for four generations. They explain how a little bit of mindfulness can go a long way in helping to cope with daily life stressors and prevent us from not dwelling on things outside our control.

What we are good at and how we can contribute to the broader world is often a very important way we express ourselves and connect with others. In this episode, we speak with Gene Schriefer, Wisconsin State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency, and Dorothy Harms, who is a farmer, active community volunteer, and a member of the Farmer Angel Network. Every situation is unique; knowing what strengths you bring to your life and farm can help you plan for a positive future.

Having things to be grateful for and being grateful are often two different things. In this episode we speak with Beth Smetana, a retired clinical social worker and Brianne Mossman founder of the Will P Project developed after her brother, a farmer died by suicide. They will talk to us about how the smallest, simplest things in life can helps us connect with gratitude.

The stress that comes from managing the ups and downs of everyday life in agriculture can be challenging. In this episode Dr. Judy Moskowitz, the original developer of WeCOPE and Dr. John Shutske, Professor and Extension Agricultural Safety & Health Specialist at UW–Madison Division of Extension help us understand how the skills of WeCOPE can help manage this stress.

Do you look forward to and dread the holiday season at the same time? The holiday season can be even trickier when you are a part of a family farm. Farmers are often juggling the end of crop harvest, year-end financial decisions and changing weather as we step into the full swing of the holiday season. A family farm blends home and workplace, creating a mix of family ties and work duties.

Every day, Wisconsin farmers and farm families face financial challenges, physical demands of the job, and challenges outside of their control that impact their lives. These challenges can lead to chronic stress that can affect a farmer’s mental and physical well-being, their relationships, and decision-making and create unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as alcohol and substance use. 

Farming is an occupation that stirs passions in the hearts of those connected to agriculture. It is also important to admit that the risk of suicide among farmers is real. In fact, the rate is over three times higher among all who live in rural areas as compared to those who live in urban places.

Stress is everywhere, and there are many facets of our daily life where we encounter challenging times. For parents, it can be increasingly difficult to help our children navigate through these challenging and changing times when our own buckets feel dry many days.

Community is especially important in farming, as living and working in rural communities can feel isolating. Community can be defined many different ways, but in its simplest form, it is about connection. Community is about more than a group or organization. It is the feeling of belonging, being accepted, and having similar values and beliefs […]

The recently released Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data from the Wisconsin Department of Instruction, notes that over half of Wisconsin students report significant problems with anxiety, and one-third report problems with symptoms of depression in the last year.

Every day, farmers and farm families face financial challenges, demands of the job, and changes outside of their control that impact their lives and livelihoods. Market volatility for inputs and outputs, access to labor, challenging weather conditions, and the pressure to grow and modernize are underlying drivers of this occupational stress. 

Every day, farmers and farm families face financial challenges, demands of the job, and changes outside of their control that impact their lives and livelihoods. Market volatility for inputs and outputs, access to labor, challenging weather conditions, and the pressure to grow and modernize are underlying drivers of this occupational stress.

Trauma is often thought of as a one-time event that was “traumatic” to the person(s) involved in the event.  However, trauma can come from so much more than just a one-time event.

There are many stressors when owning and operating a farm business, and for many of you, a multi-generational farm business. Adopting a positive mindset with a focus on gratitude can help farm business owners better handle these stressors.

The reduction in stress is a significant benefit of being a “good boss.” Then there’s the fact that well-trained employees take better care of cows and equipment.

Host Katie Wantoch and John Shutske, Professor and Director of UW Center for Agricultural Safety and Health and an Extension Specialist, discuss a farmer’s wife who is worried about her husband and the ongoing struggles with their farm business.

Stress is a double-edged sword. A little stress can serve as a constructive motivator, galvanizing us to action. Too much stress, on the other hand, can damage our health compromise safety and sabotage personal relationships. With the arduous and sometimes volatile conditions we see in agriculture, the risk of too much stress is alarming.

When I was a little boy, I was intrigued by trucks, tractors and machines like any farm kid. I understood what the gas pedal was in my mom’s car and my dad’s pickup. But it took me a while to understand exactly what the throttle did on the steering column of our John Deere 4020 and how it controlled fuel flow. Understanding stress is similar — and for our health and the well-being of our loved ones and relationships, learning where to find the levers to “throttle down” the chemicals that fuel high levels of stress is crucial.

A lender’s primary interest is in whether you’re likely to fulfill the requirements of a credit agreement. When a creditor lends you money, he or she does it with the expectation of earning a profit, which is unlikely to happen if there’s a good possibility that you’ll default on the loan. The lender will be […]

A statement often made with professional athletes is that they stayed in the game beyond the years of their peak performance. Of course, the couple million they made for their time, helped ease the transition! However, we may ask the same question of a farm business, when is it time to gracefully exit, when are we trying to stay in the business too long beyond peak performance?

The thought of leaving a business or career that one has always known can be uneasy and downright scary, but along with those thoughts, there are many positives that can come along with making a change. As business owners, farmers develop all types of skills. By evaluating their best skills and matching them with their own personal core values can be a usual exercise to plot a course for the future.

Stress is common in farming.  The long hours can sometimes lead to fatigue, especially if there is not enough help.  A feeling of a lack of control during changing times and conditions can compound the feeling of uncertainty.  Other things that can cause stress are issues related to your kids, relationships, markets, the weather, and […]

Employment and training services are offered throughout the state of Wisconsin. These services, from resume development to skill training to on-the-job training, are provided through American Job Center system at any one of several Job Centers locate throughout the state. Basic services are provided to any individual searching for new employment. More intensive services require […]

Knowing where to start with financial analysis can be overwhelming. It may be helpful to remember this just one step in the Farm Financial Model: Records → Management Reports → Decision Making Cash vs. Accrual Accounting Records It’s important to know if your records are on a cash or accrual basis.  Most farm records are […]