The Root Cause of Farm Stress

We toss around the phrase “mental health,” and sometimes it feels a little vague. Hard to grab onto. Here’s something we all recognize right away. Stress. And in agriculture, stress is often not the disease. It’s the symptom.

So what’s the root cause? Very often, it’s financial.

A 2025 study from the University of Georgia helps explain what farmers across the country are living with. In many major crops, profits have been the exception, not the rule. Rising input costs, land and water pressures, equipment bills, and unpredictable markets mean financial pressure doesn’t stay on paper. It follows you home.

Researchers found farmers aren’t asking for help managing stress itself. They want help managing what’s making them stressed. Clear guidance on disaster assistance, government programs, and managing debt before it becomes overwhelming.

Here’s the takeaway. When we address financial strain at the source, we help protect the people behind the work, their families, and the rural communities they anchor.

A link to the study, along with immediate help resources for anyone in crisis, can be found at https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/news/financial-planning-relieves-farm-stress/