Eighteen-hour workdays, extended time away from family, isolation, financial pressures, too little sleep, and limited human interaction can all be part of life for manure haulers during the busy fall application season. The physical demands of the job are easy to recognize. The mental strain, however, can be less visible, and easier to overlook.
“The seasonal nature of farming, including manure hauling and application, makes it very stressful,” says Emily Krekelberg, extension educator, farm safety and health at the University of Minnesota Extension.
What can make the situation even more challenging, she explains, is that people outside the farming community don’t really understand the nature of the work and how stressful it can be. “Some of the stressors are not socially understood or accepted,” she says, “so we don’t have a lot of social support from people outside of agriculture.”
Daniel Andersen, professor and extension specialist in manure management and water quality at Iowa State University, says the cumulative effect of multiple stressors can be significant.
Weather conditions can change quickly, long hours are often unavoidable, and the work demands constant physical and mental attention. Schedules are frequently dictated by the weather, leaving workers with little control over how their days unfold.
“When things are consistent,” says Andersen, “you can focus on routine and build in the self-care that makes it doable every day. When work is seasonal, we often start to say, ‘I can do this. It’s only a few extra hours today. We can finish this job, and move on to the next one.’ Or we say, ‘It’s only a few more weeks until we are done. I can just push through.’”
He explains that during busy periods, workers may postpone sleep, proper meals and other forms of self-care until the job is finished, telling themselves they only need to push through for a little longer.
Krekelberg explains that this level of fatigue is a definite safety issue, and so is constant stress. “When we’re stressed, we have higher cortisol levels, and that can impact our judgement and our reaction times,” she says. “When we’re tired, when we haven’t eaten well for a week, we are impaired.”
Faulty coping mechanisms
Working extremely long hours leaves very little time for rest or sleep, which eventually impacts a person’s ability to think clearly and make sound decisions. The effects of sleep deprivation are often compounded as workers try to fight fatigue by consuming more caffeine, more sugary snacks and eating whatever foods may be available on the go.
The result can be a cycle that reinforces itself: Workers rely on caffeine and quick sources of energy to keep going, but those choices can make it harder to get the rest their bodies and minds need. “We are often trying to bring our energy up, to keep pushing, and that can make it harder to sleep when we do lay down,” says Andersen. “In turn, less sleep slows decision speed and reaction time.”
Krekelberg stresses the importance of taking care of our physical bodies during these long hours at work. “Nutrition is often overlooked,” she says. “But when we eat well, we feel well. So instead of a soft drink and a candy bar, have some milk, some cereal, a protein bar or something else that’s good for you.”
She explains that the effects of long hours extend beyond physical fatigue and can also take a significant mental and emotional toll. Besides the mental exhaustion workers have to deal with, she is most concerned about isolation.
“I would have to say that this is the number-one issue,” she says. “Isolation is a huge risk factor for mental health, regardless of the occupation, but especially in agriculture, since many of the tasks are performed by people working alone for long hours at a time.”
Extended periods of isolation, she explains, can contribute to greater stress and a higher risk of depression. The problem can continue even after the workday ends. After 18 or 20 hours on the job, workers may be too exhausted to spend time with family or friends. Instead, all they want to do is sleep.
Even manure haulers who work with a team and aren’t necessarily on their own all day can feel the effects of isolation. “They’re away from family,” says Andersen, “And even if they bond with their crew, that crew is not a substitute for family.”
Early warning signs
The effects of prolonged stress and exhaustion can be serious. Recognizing the warning signs, either in yourself or someone else, can be an important first step toward getting help. How can you tell if your mental health is being pushed to its limits? And how can you tell if someone you know may need help?
At first, the signs may be subtle. Someone who normally enjoys spending time with friends and family may begin withdrawing from others, avoiding social activities and choosing to remain alone, even when they are away from work.
“They don’t want to spend time with their family or go to events or do things they’ve normally done,” says Krekelberg. “That can be an early sign.”
Another sign, she adds, is when the person no longer wants to take care of themselves. “Their hygiene might be slipping,” she says. “If they’re a person who normally takes pride in their appearance, but suddenly that doesn’t seem to matter at all to them, that could be a sign.”
Changes in how someone cares for their home, farm or personal surroundings may also be worth noticing, particularly when they represent a significant departure from that person’s usual habits.
“I’ve been to farms where I know the farmer is struggling, and things look like they were just left in place, without even an attempt to put things in some kind of order,” says Krekelberg.
Practical coping strategies
While the demands of manure hauling can’t always be reduced during the busiest weeks of the season, there are steps workers can take to protect their mental and physical wellbeing.
Andersen recommends looking for ways to spend more time with those you love. If you’re too tired to spend meaningful time with family at the end of the day, he suggests finding opportunities to connect during the workday instead. “Share a picnic in the field,” he says. “Bring the family out and have a picnic with them.”
Krekelberg agrees that family time is essential, and adds that making an effort to connect socially with those you care about during the day can make a big difference in a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
“If you’re having a long day and you’re on the road, call a friend, a spouse or somebody you know, and just talk for a few minutes,” she says. “Hearing another voice can make a big difference, even if you’re not talking about anything that’s really important. A call can strengthen social connections and reduce that feeling of isolation.”
She stresses the body-mind connection and emphasizes the need for nutritious food. “Reach out for better snacks and lunch options,” she says. “You don’t have to change your whole diet, but you can make better choices.”
She also recommends simple deep-breathing exercises as a way to reduce stress and regain a sense of calm. “This is especially good for manure haulers, because it’s easy, and because they are all alone in their trucks, so they don’t have to feel embarrassed, and no one needs to know they’re doing it,” she says.
Krekelberg’s final message is that workers experiencing stress should not feel that they have to simply endure it alone: “If you’re experiencing a lot of stress right now, you are not the only one. And if you’re feeling stressed, you’re not helpless. There is a lot you can do to help yourself. You don’t need to change your entire life overnight. You can do something as simple as deep breathing for 30 seconds, and that can help.” •
