Be A Good Neighbor: Check In and Watch for Signs of Stress

Thu, 01 May 2025 20:23:04 GMT

The pressure of farming and ranching today is real. The stress of managing a farm or ranch during challenging or not so challenging times can weigh heavily on an individual’s mental health.

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. from Kansas has shared his concern about the mental health of farmers and ranchers. During the recent Top Producer Conference hosted by Farm Journal, Marshall encouraged the audience to be good neighbors and look out for signs of depression, such as changes in appearance, sleep patterns or social withdrawal.

“We think about the farm-related accidents that we grew up trying to prevent,” he recalls. “This a bigger danger, a bigger risk. I just want to encourage farmers and ranchers to realize some of the signs and symptoms of depression.”

Marshall shared these tips for being a good neighbor and supporting the mental health of fellow farmers and ranchers. Look for these signs or symptoms of depression:
- Trouble sleeping at night and not being able to get back to sleep
- Giving away possessions or buying more life insurance
- Changes in appearance, like not shaving or combing their hair
- Withdrawing from social activities they used to participate in

He encouraged producers to reach out to friends and neighbors who might be struggling.

“Reach out to that neighbor of yours,” he says. “Be a good neighbor and say, ‘Hey, let’s go grab a cup of coffee and maybe a cinnamon roll.’”

Marshall says it is important to leverage your networks and connections in the community and look out for one another. He also encourages producers to recognize the resources available beyond just calling the 988 mental health hotline, such as local community health centers, which can provide support without the stigma of going to a mental health facility.

Marshall’s call to action is to be proactive, recognize the signs and then provide compassionate support to their friends, neighbors and fellow farmers who could be struggling with mental health challenges. Marshall emphasized the importance of the community looking out for one another during these difficult times.

Mental Health Resources

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Lawsuit Alleges Rancher, John Deere Combine Caused Wildfire

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:50:34 GMT

A lawsuit filed in Oregon’s Wasco County Circuit Court claims the August 2017 wildfire that burned 68,000 acres was caused by a rancher and John Deere, the manufacturer of a combine that sparked the blaze.

The suit was filed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs who say the wildfire burned tens of thousands of acres on their reservation and caused hundreds of evacuations. The tribe alleges Jamie Wisenbaker, who owns a ranch just north of the tribal lands in Wasco County, allowed his brother Larry to operate a combine on his property in August 2017 despite a lack of experience or training.

The combine began emitting sparks from a rock lodged in the header, according to The Oregonian , but Larry Wisenbaker continued to drive the machine, the lawsuit alleges. The sparks eventually set the field ablaze and developed into the Nena Springs fire, according to the suit. It burned for more than two weeks.

The suit alleges the fire caused “significant damage’ throughout the reservation, including “burnt forest and land, damaged fencing, deterioration of the soil and watershed, range and vegetation damage, damage to cultural resources (and) damage to fish and wildlife and their habitat.”

The tribe is seeking $12.25 million in economic damages from lost timber resources.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal determined the cause of the fire was accidental, “probably caused by the use of a combine for routine harvesting operations” and exacerbated by 100-degree temperatures.

The tribe also named John Deere, which manufactured the combine harvester, in the lawsuit, claiming the company made faulty equipment. Court records show the allegations are that John Deere should have designed a machine “capable of encountering naturally occurring debris without causing mechanical issues, sparks, or fires,” with safety features such as an automatic shut-off switch or operator warning alert.

Related stories:

Oregon Farmers Not Liable While Fighting Wildfires

BLM Now Hopes Hammond’s Cattle Can Reduce Wildfire Risk

Cowmen

Be A Good Neighbor: Check In and Watch for Signs of Stress

Lawsuit Alleges Rancher, John Deere Combine Caused Wildfire