Prioritise safety, wellbeing

Look out for each other and look after yourself. That’s the message to grain growers from new Grains Research Development Corporation Southern Regional Panel member Fiona Marshall this harvest.

Mrs Marshall, a farm business manager, grain grower and parent at Mulwala in the southern Riverina, said safety and wellbeing – physical and mental – should be the number one priority at harvest.

“Safety is the most important thing throughout harvest,” she said. “You have to look after each other, take care of yourself and maintain conversations.”

She said the need to support each other had been heightened this year following severe weather events, particularly late-season frosts, expected to result in significant crop loss for some growers.

“The late frosts have not been widespread across entire regions. That is what makes this situation so incredibly difficult – unlike a drought or a flood when so many farmers would be going through the same thing at the same time and recognition of their plight is extensive, these frosts are in isolation and growers are left to deal with the fall-out,” she said.

“When your neighbours are celebrating a bumper harvest but your crops have been wiped out by frost – it is a devastating position for a grower to be in.”

Mrs Marshall, who has been farming with her husband Craig for 21 years, said it was critical that growers affected by frost and other damaging weather sought support and maintained communication with family, friends and others in the community.

Having already spoken with many growers impacted by frost, she said it was essential to keep conversation channels open.

“Communication is key for all grain growers, especially at this time of the year,” she said.

“If you are lying in bed at night worrying about money or how you are going to get the next crop in, talk to the bank manager, talk to other people.

“Don’t internalise because you will only make yourself more tired, stressed and anxious.

“As hard as it might be, you just have to deal with situations and move on, so whatever happens, at least you are in action and not just dwelling on something and achieving nothing.”

Mrs Marshall also stressed that farms were the most dangerous workplaces in the nation and at harvest that fact was amplified, with so many people and large machinery involved.

“Not cutting corners and keeping people fed, hydrated and well rested is vital,” she said. “If you’re tired, you have just got to stop and rest. Getting to the end of harvest without incident and celebrating together is so important.”

Mrs Marshall said downtime after the crops were harvested was also imperative.

“Harvest is an absolutely exhausting process – but it’s what we work towards all year. Taking some time away from the farm at the end of it all is critical,” she said.

To support growers experiencing difficult circumstances, the GRDC has produced a farmer health fact sheet on building emotional resilience. It is available online at www. grdc.com.au/grdc-fs-emotionalresilience.