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All articles about Health and wellbeing

Farmers’ physical and mental health and wellbeing are often pushed to one side as the important tasks of managing a busy arable or livestock farm take over. See ideas to help you keep fit and healthy on the farm and combat rural isolation and stress.

Advice and tips

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Farm Doctor: What to do if you suffer from hearing loss

Working in agriculture can take its toll on hearing as farmers are exposed to many loud noises which, over time, may damage the inner ear. In fact, farming is an…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Considering a new future: Ways to deal with farming pressures

It is no secret that stress and poor mental health are endemic among the people who make their living from the land. As the UK moves away from direct farm…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Holistic farmer wellbeing health check: How are you really?

Farmers are notorious for spending more time thinking about their livestock, costs and crops than their own happiness and wellbeing. This is perhaps best explained by agriculture’s long history, slight…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Coronavirus: Advice for managing and keeping staff safe

Farmers may be wondering how to best protect their staff during the coronavirus outbreak. We asked Oliver Dale, managing director at Safety Revolution, and Sophie Walker, business manager at the…

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Case studies

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Video: Son's death leads family to back mental health charity

The parents of a 22-year-old farmer who took his own life are urging youngsters facing a similar situation to seek help and support. Leonard Eadon, from Napton, in Warwickshire, died…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Britain's Fittest Farmer 2021: 4 strong women's entries

Farmers Weekly's popular health and wellbeing competition, Britain's Fittest Farmer, is attracting entries from across the country.  There's still plenty of time for you to enter the contest if you're…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Fit2Farm: How a better work-life balance benefits farm

Achieving a better work-life balance is top of the list for Britain's farmers – many of whom are working long hours with little time off. The average farmer works 65…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Video: Exmoor group tackles farm support and rural isolation

The unique and thriving farmer-led Exmoor Hill Farming Network has grown to support 300 local farming businesses since it began four years ago under the guidance of chairman Dave Knight…

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Community

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Agricultural alliance set to support mental health

A new coalition focused on mental health support is being launched, aiming to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to services for both agricultural workers and their advisers. The…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Farm Doctor: What to do when you have the flu

We’re in the midst of flu season, when coughs, colds, and “the flu” are at their peak, often lingering for what feels like weeks and potentially disrupting farm businesses. Influenza,…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Rural champion raises £3,000 for mental health charity

The importance of looking after your mental health through exercise was highlighted when Trystan Lloyd, from Lyft Club in west Wales, set himself the challenge to complete 24 workouts in…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Collaborative support: 3 charities tackle farming crises

As pressure mounts on the farming sector, three key rural charities are working together to ensure farmers, crofters and their families receive the support they need to build resilience and…

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Insights

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Why is farming's biggest charity moving into policy?

It is often said that prevention is better than cure, which is why the UK’s largest rural charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution’s (Rabi), has this week announced a change…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Why farmers should prepare for and discuss health issues

Matthew Berryman’s role as a farm consultant sometimes involves getting clients to address topics they would rather not talk about. “When I raise the subject of wills and lasting powers…

SUCCESSION PLANNING

Why poor succession planning can impact mental health

Numerous aspects of farming can negatively impact upon mental health, but the one many might not have drawn a line to is the eternal pressures surrounding succession. Though succession is…

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News

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

FCN urges farmers to get early cancer signs checked by GP

The Farming Community Network (FCN) has launched a new campaign, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, to encourage the early detection of cancer. FCN’s Nip it in the Bud campaign…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Gun licence holders told not to avoid mental health support

Medical practitioners are advising shotgun and firearms licence holders to seek professional support for any mental health issues. There are concerns within the industry that some licence holders may not…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Survey reveals how often Scots farmers take holidays

Farmers and crofters in Scotland have been encouraged to take holidays away from the farm to improve wellbeing and productivity. However, less than half (47%) feel confident that someone else…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

New Foundation to tackle poor mental health in rural areas

Improving mental health and reducing the numbers taking their own lives are the key aims of a new foundation established this week to support people working in rural communities. Launched…

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Opinion

NEWS

Opinion: Simple self-help tools can be useful to farmers

An Irish podcaster known as “Blindboy”, famous for wearing a mask fashioned out of a shopping bag, may have one of the best tools for mental health. He highlights the…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Farmers offer their younger selves some pearls of wisdom

The benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing, and everyone makes mistakes. We can all learn from each other, too. With this in mind, Farmers Weekly and rural charity The…

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Video

Video: Britain's Fittest Farmer 2022 - meet the winners

The winners of Britain’s Fittest Farmer have been crowned after battling it out at the finals in Essex. The competition was fierce, the camaraderie strong, and our four winners get…

Video: Britain's Fittest Farmer 2022 - the qualifiers

Competitors from across the country converged on Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park for the qualifying rounds of Britain’s Fittest Farmer.  The Gloucestershire venue saw almost 60 entrants battle in out…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Video: Son's death leads family to back mental health charity

The parents of a 22-year-old farmer who took his own life are urging youngsters facing a similar situation to seek help and support. Leonard Eadon, from Napton, in Warwickshire, died…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Video: Britain's Fittest Farmer 2021 - the final

The competition was intense, but two winners have now been crowned in Farmers Weekly's iconic initiative, designed to spark a discussion about mental and physical health in the countryside. Erica…

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