In an Article by Steven Klose, Tiffany Lashmet, and Jordan Shockley they say: Managing a farm or ranch is hard to say the very least. Running your own business of any kind is difficult, but the nature of production agriculture is particularly challenging. Long production cycles seem to magnify every decision, while the feedback loop between decision and outcome is delayed and unclear. Operating in a competitive environment with little-to-no market power or influence, ag producers are price takers when it comes to purchasing inputs and price takers when it comes to selling commodities. When it comes to the production process, you could say… weather takers. Layer on top of this the pressure many producers feel of maintaining the family’s legacy, and it’s easy to get to the point of questioning “how much more can I take?”
It is not lost on us and our team of Southern Ag Today authors that offering management advice on Monday mornings is a little like a football fan offering quarterback advice from the comfort of the recliner. We try to keep the tips, data, tools, and other information as relevant as possible, and one of our measuring sticks for topics is whether or not our producer audience actually has the time to do anything with the information. Because we know your job is busy and overwhelming, we can confidently say you have no choice but to make time for today’s management topic.
Stress. It can weigh heavy, affecting your emotional, physical, and mental health.
Among the endless list of things to manage, the stress of it all feels like another not-so-manageable thing you have to deal with. Too often, your physical and mental well-being take a back seat to everything else that must be done. Remember, this is very much like the oxygen mask on the airplane. Your health, both physical and mental, must be priority number one. You take good care of your equipment and livestock. Don’t ignore yourself. You are the most important asset on the farm/ranch.
Recently, I had a small leak in the seam on the side of my water heater. It was small. The problem wasn’t urgent. The drain pan & drain line were working as they should. And, of course I was busy. For longer than I care to admit, each day/week held more important tasks than finding a plumber. I’m sure you know how this ends. There came a day when the water heater burst. In that moment, I was managing the consequences of not managing my priorities. Overwhelming stress and your health can be like that.
We want to encourage you. Don’t ignore your health, especially if you have been putting off some nagging mental or physical issue. There’s no better time than now to address it. Of course, with the extra pressures of this time of year, if the mental stress has already pushed you too far, please check out some of the immediate mental health resources available. Farm Hope and AgriStress Helpline are two programs available in Texas. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available nationwide. To find local help in your state, check out the National Agricultural Law Center’s compilation of Stress & Mental Health resources here: https://nationalaglawcenter.org/center-publications/family/mentalhealth/As 2025 comes to a close, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season and the best of Health and Prosperity in 2026.
Klose, Steven, Tiffany Lashemt, and Jordan Shockley. “Management Priority #1.” Southern Ag Today 5(51.1). December 15, 2025. Permalink
