For most farmers, what they do for a living is not just a job.
It is a responsibility bestowed upon them and one that has been carried over across generations.
But a new report has found that Australia is facing a potential exodus of farmers with two in five considering leaving the industry.
In the face of increased fuel, fertiliser and freight costs, the agriculture sector is under immense pressure.
For farmers also battling repeated natural disasters and global instability, this has compounded their struggles.
The 2026 Norco National Farmer Wellbeing Report led in partnership with the Black Dog Institute, reveals more than one in two farmers have felt depressed or down in the past two years. Alarmingly, one in seven have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
For women in the industry, who are often contending with additional pressures of family and care responsibilities, the situation is worse.
According to the report, 61 per cent of female farmers have felt depressed or down in the past 12 months compared to 48 per cent of men. 72 per cent have experienced anxiety and 40 per cent say their mental health has worsened over the past three years compared to 26 per cent of men.
In fact, female farmers reported higher levels of emotional distress across almost every wellbeing measure in the study.
Norco dairy farmer Jane Polson who is based in flood-struck Oxley Island, New South Wales, says the broader public does not realise what is happening behind the scenes.
“People see natural disasters, fuel shortages or rising prices in the headlines but what they don’t always see is the emotional and financial toll farmers are carrying every single day,” she says.
“The ongoing uncertainty across so many areas is very real and unfortunately those pressures don’t switch off when the workday ends.
“Farming is not just a job for most people, it’s a way of life for families.
“But many farmers are exhausted and carrying the weight of navigating these increasingly difficult circumstances.”
According to the report, more than one in four farmers say they have been operating at a loss in the past three years.
An overwhelming majority of them report adverse impacts on their mental health as a result.
Black Dog Institute Executive Director Professor Samuel Harvey says the situation cannot be ignored any longer.
“We need to equip regional communities to better support each other and ensure farmers can access timely, high-quality professional mental health care when they need it, no matter where they live,” he says.
“But we also need to recognise the power policymakers have to improve farmer wellbeing through better responses to the economic and climate challenges they face.
“Mental health support is critical but so too is addressing the underlying pressures that are driving distress in the first place.”
Working second jobs to keep afloat
Close to 60 per cent of farmers surveyed say they now rely on a second job or work outside farming to keep things afloat financially.
The extra work adds up to a second full-time job for nearly one in five farmers.
The stats are worrying and spotlight how invisible people behind Australia’s food production feel in a system they help sustain.
Norco CEO Michael Hampson says farmers produce around 90 per cent of the food we consume in Australia.
But many cannot foresee continuing to do so which threatens the nation’s long-term food security.
He says the report’s findings should serve as a wake-up call for industry, government and the broader community.
“In an increasingly uncertain global environment, maintaining strong local food production and sovereign capability has never been more important and farmer wellbeing must now be recognised as a critical food security issue requiring coordinated action,” Hampson says.
“The fact that 94 per cent of farmers believe Australia’s long-term food security depends on stronger support for farmers and regional communities sends a powerful message about the scale of concern.
“If we lose farmers, we lose far more than individual farms.
“We risk losing regional communities, local industries and ultimately Australia’s ability to sustain its own food production.
“That’s why it is critical we continue investing in the sustainability and resilience of Australian agriculture and the people behind it because we simply cannot afford to take our farming sector for granted.”
If you or anyone you know need help, make a call today:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
HeadSpace on 1800 650 890
Rural Aid Counselling on 1300 175 594