The Hidden Risk: How Mental Health Impacts Farm Safety

 Canadian Ag Safety Week serves as an important reminder that farm safety isn’t just about machinery, equipment, and protocols—it’s also about the people who make farming possible. The reality is that farming is one of the most dangerous occupations, and while we often focus on the physical risks, we rarely talk about the hidden danger: mental health. When stress, anxiety, and exhaustion take hold, the consequences can be just as serious as a mechanical failure.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. I remember many occasions when I was working on the farm, distracted by various stressors, and safety became secondary. One day, when I needed to get some baling done, the tractor wouldn’t start. In my haste, I did what many have done before—I took a screwdriver to direct-start the tractor at the starter. What I failed to check was whether the tractor was in gear. It wasn’t. The moment it started, it lurched forward. Thankfully, it was in the lowest gear, giving me just enough time to step aside. That moment still sticks with me. It could have ended very differently, and I often look back and think, "That was too close for comfort."

When stress, anxiety, and depression set in, they impair our ability to make sound decisions. Fatigue leads to slower reaction times, distraction increases the likelihood of mistakes, and unchecked stress can cloud our judgment.

Farmers deal with countless factors outside of their control—commodity prices, weather, equipment failures, and market uncertainty. This constant unpredictability wreaks havoc on our minds, leaving us feeling powerless. And yet, the pressure to “push through” remains. There’s an unspoken expectation in agriculture that you work until the job is done, no matter the toll it takes on you. But at what cost? When exhaustion sets in, mistakes happen. A missed step, a moment of inattention, or a delayed reaction can turn into a life-altering accident.

The culture of farming has long been one of resilience, but resilience doesn’t mean suffering in silence. We need to start having open conversations about mental health in our farm communities. Checking in on our neighbors, employees, and family members is just as important as checking the oil in our tractors. A simple, “How are you really doing?” can make a world of difference.

That’s where organizations like the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP) come in. MFWP provides accessible mental health support tailored specifically for farmers. Seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a proactive step toward ensuring both personal and farm safety.

Mental health isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s a safety issue. A farm can’t run without its farmer. If we truly want to prioritize safety in agriculture, we need to start by taking care of ourselves and each other. So this Ag Safety Week, let’s commit to looking out for one another. Because without the farmer, there is no farm.