Mental strain of drought needs attention too

PSYCHOLOGICAL stress needs adequate preparation, writes SIMON LIVINGSTONE.

RECENT reports have shown NSW in severe drought and farmers hurting.

Dry times are not uncommon in Australian agriculture. Just ask Western Queensland graziers who have been in drought for five consecutive years. But there is something different about this drought that is unnerving, not just for NSW farmers, but the nation as a whole.

At a time when agriculture commodity prices and the future for global growth looks buoyant, it is cruel irony that many farmers are destocking their properties. The negative effect of drought flows further than on farm, illustrated by the challenges several ASX-listed agricultural companies are experiencing. Nufarm’s share price has recently experienced significant falls and Elders and Ruralco have forecast flat earnings.

Simon Livingstone.

Drought is a major inhibitor to business financial success. Tertiary institutions educate students to prepare for and effectively manage drought. Students are taught to manage budgets, to conserve fodder reserves, to calculate stocking rates, consider loan repayments and to manage the land sustainably. But what about the human aspect of prolonged drought? What about the mental anguish? How do we prepare farmers to cope with five years of drought?

The answer is, in part, to start early. We need to start with young minds. We know that children learn at an early age from their parents, teachers and mentors. Children learn to adapt and adjust from an early age.

We need to assist young farmers early in their development about how to handle droughts. How to handle their mental state and how to assist their families and communities to get through these crippling times. We need to explain to young minds that they can be the best farm business managers of the future, but it means little if they cannot work their way through the mental strain.

Short courses in resilience are required for the wider rural community. But we know the best learning comes from repetition and consolidation over time. We need to educate, train and prepare young farmers for psychological experiences most other industry sectors will never experience.

• Dr Simon Livingstone is principal of Marcus Oldham College in Geelong