The Psychological Struggles Behind Dairy Farming
Source: dairynews.today
A study co-authored by George Holmes highlights the mental well-being challenges faced by UK dairy farmers and its impact on their career decisions.
A Dorset dairy farmer, George Holmes, has co-authored a study entitled Why dairy farmers leave the industry: The role of control, autonomy and self-efficacy, which scrutinizes the psychological and emotional influences on dairy farmers' decisions to leave the industry. According to Holmes, the number of UK dairy farmers has dwindled by over 56% in the past two decades.
The research, involving over 400 farmers, identified that lack of control and autonomy are significant contributing factors for their departure. Holmes urges improvements across the dairy supply chain, emphasizing that policy shaping should bolster farmers' control and autonomy to reduce turnover and enhance confidence. The study integrates mental and physical well-being considerations to comprehend how these elements drive decisions to quit the sector.
The research, involving over 400 farmers, identified that lack of control and autonomy are significant contributing factors for their departure. Holmes urges improvements across the dairy supply chain, emphasizing that policy shaping should bolster farmers' control and autonomy to reduce turnover and enhance confidence. The study integrates mental and physical well-being considerations to comprehend how these elements drive decisions to quit the sector.
