Farmers keen to bridge disconnect with wider society, study reveals

Farmers are keen to form closer ties with the public to help them understand the vital work they do to feed the nation and manage the environment, a new study reveals.

Research conducted by the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter and the Farming Community Network (FCN) has identified an ongoing feeling of “disconnect” between farmers and wider society, and a lack of empathy sometimes from government and regulators.

Farmers who were interviewed for the study felt the public needed to better understand what is involved in farming and its unique pressures.

See also: How farmers can deal with mental health at times of pressure

Feeling isolated from wider society was adding to isolation and loneliness in farming communities, which, for some, was contributing to mental health problems among farmers, such as depression and anxiety.

For the study, researchers carried out in-depth interviews with 22 farmers/members of farming families and six farm support practitioners in England between March and July 2021 – the period when the UK government began lifting Covid-19 restrictions.

Some farmers said they had been subjected to abusive behaviour, including being sworn at during their working day. 

One farming man, aged in his 40s, told how the demographic in his local village had changed dramatically in the past 20 years. He said: “You feel a bit of an alien on your own doorstep.” 

A farm support practitioner said farmers in one area which has had a large housing development said they felt more isolated due to complaints about their work, including noise from cows and tractors.

Positive steps

One of the study leads, Dr Rebecca Wheeler, from Exeter University, said: “It was concerning to hear how farmers’ sense of public misunderstanding of farming was contributing to their feelings of loneliness.

“On the other hand, some farmers talked about forming strong relationships with their local community and found that had positive benefits for their own wellbeing of public understanding of food and farming.

“We would encourage government, industry and farmers to work together to support these activities.”

The study, It’s a lonely old world [PDF], is published this month in the journal Sociologia Ruralis.

It made several key recommendations to government and industry, including enhancing opportunities for community engagement with agriculture, improving public dialogue in relation to food and farming, promoting local food networks and a more positive and empathetic approach from government and regulators towards policy and legislative requirements.

• Farmers who are struggling with isolation and loneliness must not suffer in silence. Farming Community Network runs a confidential national helpline (03000 111 999, open 7am-11pm every day of the year) and an e-helpline (help@fcn.org.uk).