Recent research from The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) has revealed a concerning decline in mental well-being among young farmers over the past four years. The charity’s study, part of its eighth annual Mind Your Head campaign, found that 90% of farmers identify poor mental health as the “biggest hidden problem” facing the industry today.
The research, based on a survey of over 750 farmers, sheds light on the increasing pressures faced by those working in agriculture. Farmers in the UK are working an average of 60 hours a week—significantly more than the national full-time average of 36.4 hours. Alarmingly, nearly 44% of farmers aged 41 to 60 report working more than 81 hours a week.
These long working hours are contributing to safety concerns, with one in three farmers admitting to having experienced an accident or near miss in the past year. The study also highlighted a strong correlation between extended hours and unsafe working conditions, particularly among those reporting lower mental well-being scores.
The mental health crisis in farming has been exacerbated by recent budget measures set to take effect in April 2026. Farmers have voiced their concerns through protests outside the UK Parliament and in supermarket car parks, expressing their fear about the future of farming and food production in the country.
In 2024, the hours worked by farmers increased compared to the previous year, which the Farm Safety Foundation attributes to the worsening mental health crisis within the sector. The charity suggests that individuals with lower mental well-being scores are more likely to engage in unsafe working practices, further jeopardizing their health and safety.
In response to the crisis, The Farm Safety Foundation hosted a roundtable discussion with members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) from Angus. The conversation, attended by The Prince of Wales, focused on resilience, loneliness, and rural isolation among young farmers. The Foundation aims to understand how the next generation is addressing these challenges and to amplify their voices in the conversation about mental health in agriculture.
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of The Farm Safety Foundation, commented, “This has been an incredibly challenging period for farming, unlike anything we have seen before. The demands on farmers—long hours, isolation, and financial uncertainty—are pushing the industry to its limits.”
Berkeley emphasized the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in farming, stating, “For us to change the cultural reluctance to discuss mental health, we need to listen to young farmers, learn from their experiences, and support their efforts to improve the situation.”
Reflecting on the roundtable discussion, Berkeley noted, “It was an honor to have His Royal Highness join the conversation. The visibility provided by such high-profile interest helps to further the issue and the Mind Your Head campaign, which has been running for eight years now.”
She concluded, “Farmers are the backbone of our food production, and it’s time they received the support they deserve. While we’re seeing more openness around mental health, it’s crucial we continue to normalize conversations and foster resilience in the farming community.”
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