They put food on our tables, but 9 out of 10 farmers feel undervalued
A national survey finds many farmers are considering leaving the industry, while one in three feel their mental health has deteriorated over the last year.
The 2026 National Farmer Wellbeing Report, based on responses from over 1,000 farmers, highlights the deteriorating mental health and financial struggles of primary producers in Australia. Two out of five farmers surveyed have considered leaving the industry, with 54% reporting feelings of depression or down in the past two years – a significant increase from 46% in the previous report in 2023.
One in four farmers often or always feel anxious, up from 14% in 2023. Furthermore, 15% of farmers reported thoughts of self-harm or suicide within the same period. A notable rise is the percentage of farmers who feel their work is undervalued by Australian society, which grew from 76% in 2023 to 91% in 2026. The report emphasizes the urgent need for practical support, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters, which have impacted 91% of farmers in the past five years, with 21% experiencing four or more disasters during that time.
Jane Polson, a dairy farmer who has endured two major floods, described the overwhelming challenge of dealing with successive crises, leaving her with no hope or outlook. She expressed her desire to return to some semblance of normalcy but acknowledged the ongoing anxiety and uncertainty. Dr. Samuel Harvey, the Black Dog Institute's executive director and chief scientist, emphasized the need for immediate action, including providing practical assistance to affected farmers and fostering peer support, as research demonstrates that timely intervention can significantly improve mental health outcomes.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
