One of our local farmers sent me this sad video sharing the facts about alarmingly high rates of suicide among farmers and ranchers. The study by researchers out of Iowa indicated that rates in the agriculture occupations were 3.5x higher than the general population. The average debt for farmers and ranchers is $1.3 million (locally it is not as high on average, however few of our local farmers are able to own land). Farm and ranch households comprise less than 2% of the population (that number is on par for BC). The average salary is less than $40,000 (this number is MUCH less, closer to nothing for farmers in our region in the current climate). Expenditures far exceed revenues. Bankruptcy is a real, pertinent issue and that is true across our region. Most farmers also have “jobs”.
Truth from the Garden Parties
Truth from the Garden Parties
Truth from the Garden Parties
One of our local farmers sent me this sad video sharing the facts about alarmingly high rates of suicide among farmers and ranchers. The study by researchers out of Iowa indicated that rates in the agriculture occupations were 3.5x higher than the general population. The average debt for farmers and ranchers is $1.3 million (locally it is not as high on average, however few of our local farmers are able to own land). Farm and ranch households comprise less than 2% of the population (that number is on par for BC). The average salary is less than $40,000 (this number is MUCH less, closer to nothing for farmers in our region in the current climate). Expenditures far exceed revenues. Bankruptcy is a real, pertinent issue and that is true across our region. Most farmers also have “jobs”.