How is the well being of people closely related to production of farms?
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While farmers' well-being at work is not directly visible to the consumer, it forms an important part of responsible food production. In her doctoral dissertation, Marja Kallioniemi, research scientist at MTT Agrifood Research Finland, found that farmers regard their daily routine as rewarding, despite the burden that it puts on them. With regard to symptoms related to mental health and well-being, farmers most commonly suffer from symptoms of weakness, fatigue and sleeping problems. The study also found a link between symptoms related to mental well-being and pesticide use.
The research determined that full-time farmers experience less stress than the average for the working-age population in Finland. However, the industry's ongoing structural change, along with increased risks related to farming, bring workload factors to farmers' day-to-day lives. Such risks are caused by price fluctuations, the advancing climate change and the need to master a large repertoire of skills required of running a farm with its diversity of functions and an enlarged size.
"Farmers are most burdened by problems related to their farms' economic situation, various regulations that govern farming, the administration accompanying agricultural policy, weather and natural conditions, and the hazards encountered in the work environment," comments Kallioniemi, referring to her and her co-author's literary survey.
Kallioniemi and her colleagues found in theirqualitative study that significant differences exist in the number of accidents from one dairy farm to the next. A close interactive relationship with animals, following of certain procedures in animal handling, and across-the-board avoidance of factors that could cause stress to animals help to create safe working conditions for the animal handler. Knowledge of animal well-being and animals' natural behaviour contributes to the forming of an interactive relationship, furthering occupational safety. In 2012, 43% of all work-related accidents affecting Finnish farm entrepreneurs occurred in connection with animal-handling work.
The research determined that full-time farmers experience less stress than the average for the working-age population in Finland. However, the industry's ongoing structural change, along with increased risks related to farming, bring workload factors to farmers' day-to-day lives. Such risks are caused by price fluctuations, the advancing climate change and the need to master a large repertoire of skills required of running a farm with its diversity of functions and an enlarged size.
"Farmers are most burdened by problems related to their farms' economic situation, various regulations that govern farming, the administration accompanying agricultural policy, weather and natural conditions, and the hazards encountered in the work environment," comments Kallioniemi, referring to her and her co-author's literary survey.
Kallioniemi and her colleagues found in theirqualitative study that significant differences exist in the number of accidents from one dairy farm to the next. A close interactive relationship with animals, following of certain procedures in animal handling, and across-the-board avoidance of factors that could cause stress to animals help to create safe working conditions for the animal handler. Knowledge of animal well-being and animals' natural behaviour contributes to the forming of an interactive relationship, furthering occupational safety. In 2012, 43% of all work-related accidents affecting Finnish farm entrepreneurs occurred in connection with animal-handling work.
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