Friday, January 15, 2021
CapitalPress.com 9
How pandemic altered what Oregonians eat
Farm Bureau: COVID-19
taking toll on mental health and the way they think about food
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
A survey of rural adults in December
found the mental health of most farmers
and farmworkers has been impacted by
the pandemic. More than half said they
are experiencing more mental health
challenges than a year ago.
The survey was commissioned by
American Farm Bureau Federation
to gauge the effects of the pandemic
on mental health and to see what has
changed since its first rural mental
health survey in April 2019.
Three in five rural adults said the
pandemic has impacted their men-
tal health, and that response was even
higher among farmers and farmwork-
ers, said Ray Atkinson, Farm Bureau
director of communications.
Two in three farmers and farmwork-
ers said the pandemic has impacted
their mental health, and that response
was really high in younger people, he
said.
Among 18 to 34 year olds, 71% said
the pandemic has affected their mental
health, and 36% said the pandemic has
affected their mental health “a lot.”
In addition, two-thirds of that group
said they were experiencing more men-
tal health challenges than a year ago, he
said.
“That’s certainly concerning,” he
said.
Among all rural adults, 56% said
they were experiencing more chal-
lenges than a year ago, a 6% increase
from the 2019 survey — which also
noted a large increase in challenges
over the previous year,
he said.
The survey also asked about symp-
toms, including feeling nervous, anx-
ious or on edge. Farmers and farm-
workers were 10 percentage points
more likely to feel nervous, anxious
or on edge than rural adults as a group
(65% versus 55%).
“One of the things that really stuck
out to me was that farmers and farm-
workers were more likely to experience
that,” he said.
Respondents also weighed in on
what circumstances could be contribut-
L
MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES
Farm Bureau offers numerous
resources to support mental health,
including crisis hotlines, tips for
talking to people who are struggling,
how to recognize the warning signs
and information on managing stress,
anxiety or depression.
It also offers farm stress training in
partnership with Farm Credit, NFU
and Michigan State University.
To access those resources,
visit www.farmstateofmind.org .
ing to mental health challenges. One of
the biggest changes was the impact of
social isolation. The number of farm-
ers and farmworkers who said it had an
impact increased more than 22% from
the earlier survey. Those who thought
it had “a lot” of impact went from 18%
in the earlier survey to 41% in the lat-
est survey.
“We know that’s a contributor to
mental health, and farmers spend a lot
of time working alone,” he said.
“The conclusion is obviously there’s
still a lot of work to be done,” he said.
Farm Bureau and its partners have
been working on the issue for a long
time, he said.
“We really want to point people to
resources,” he said.
The survey also showed progress in
people’s awareness of mental health,
with 95% of rural adults saying men-
tal health is important to them and 75%
saying it is “very important” — an
increase of 6%.
“That tells you in all the challenges
we have, there’s opportunity there. Peo-
ple realize and they’re open to talking
about mental health and recognizing
the problem,” he said.
And 87% of farmers and farmwork-
ers say it’s important to reduce the
stigma about mental health, he said.
“That’s what most of our efforts are
about … it’s OK not to be OK and you
don’t have to go it alone,” he said.
To read the survey, visit www.fb.org.
By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN
Capital Press
A new survey found that
COVID-19 dramatically altered
how people in Oregon’s Linn,
Benton and Lincoln counties
eat and think about food.
Among respondents in the
three counties:
• 75% said they prepared
more meals at home.
• 59% said the pandemic
changed how they think about
food.
• 44% said they changed
how they shop.
• 43% said they’ve become
interested in gardening.
• 35% said they eat more
local food.
These findings were not sur-
prising, because farmers and
supermarkets reported many
of these trends anecdotally, but
this is the first time the region
has substantial data to back up
stories.
The survey was done by
Ten Rivers Food Web, an Ore-
gon group dedicated to fighting
food insecurity and supporting
local food systems. The survey-
ors, according to Heidi Noor-
djik, a small farms coordina-
tor at Oregon State University,
received 624 responses.
“What we found encourag-
ing was the shift in how people
think about their food because
of COVID-19, their deeper
understanding of the difference
between a global and local food
system and their commitment
to supporting our local food
economy,” the survey’s leaders
said in a statement.
Local food was big in 2020,
and experts say they anticipate
that trend will continue.
During the year, residents
of Linn, Benton and Lincoln
counties bought more food
from CSAs, shopped more at
farmers markets and sought out
local food co-ops.
Lloyd’s Northwest LLC
Lloyd’s Northwest LLC
Kirk Lloyd
Shawn Linehan/PACSAC
CSAs were one of many food models consumers turned to in
2020 as they sought different ways of eating and shopping.
A CSA, the acronym for
community supported agri-
culture, involves customers
pre-paying for crops that will
be available in weekly install-
ments through the harvest
season.
This was reflected anec-
dotally. Throughout the year,
numerous small-scale farmers
told the Capital Press they were
experiencing record CSA and
other direct-to-consumer sales,
and many organizers of farmers
markets that pivoted their mod-
els saw huge sales growth.
Forty-three percent of
respondents
reported
an
increased interest in gardening
and home food production. This
was demonstrated by the “pan-
demic victory gardens” that
swept the nation through the
spring and summer.
Several Oregon nurs-
ery leaders in December told
the Capital Press they had
a strong year in sales of edi-
bles, and many are planning to
expand their fruit, vegetable
and herb garden offerings in
2021 because customers seem
to have a sustained interest.
Shopping habits changed,
too. Of those who reported
changes in their shopping
behavior, 28% avoided big or
crowded stores, 12% shopped
by delivery or curbside pickup
only and 8% limited their
weekly shopping to one or a
few stores.
The pandemic also changed
the way nearly 60% of respon-
dents think about food. Many
said they thought more about
where their food comes from
and considered support-
ing local producers. Others
became more aware of food
insecurity because they or
their friends had to use food
pantries for the first time.
Another 14% said the pan-
demic highlighted to them
“the fragility and complexity
of global food supply chains”
in ways they hadn’t thought
about before.
Oregon State University
food experts say this is a key
moment for farmers to tell
their stories and reach out to
consumers who had other-
wise been somewhat oblivi-
ous about their food sources
and are now more aware and
interested.
Appointed agent for SAIF. Over 30 years experience.
Kirk Lloyd
Serving Oregon employers statewide; specializing in Agriculture.
Workers’ Comp is ALL we do!
503-559-2239 (cell) or Kirk@LloydsNW.com
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Idaho FFA adapts to overcome challenges
As the worldwide pandemic rages onward, Idaho FFA finds new ways to adapt to unrelenting
challenges.
888-877-7665
While traveling to the East Magic Valley Chapters, the State Officers were able to teach many skills,
like leadership and teamwork.
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They were also able to take part in some exciting chapter events. Clayton Beene, Bailey Grove, and
Riata Chandler were able to attend a Christmas Meeting at the American Falls Chapter. There they
were able to craft wreaths and connect with members. Prior to the social, Chandler and Grove visited
the chapter during school hours to teach the importance of agricultural advocacy and teamwork
skills.
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“American Falls welcomed us with open arms!”
Says Bailey Grove, Idaho FFA State Reporter, “It
was a wonderful experience, getting to know
these amazing FFA members!”
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Phone: (503) 769-2205
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Midway through chapter visits, the State Officers
took a break to celebrate the National FFA
Convention. Idaho State Officers gathered with
officers from Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington,
and Wyoming in Cascade, Idaho, to celebrate the
National FFA Convention. There they not only
bonded over their passion for agriculture but also
found new ways to engage members regardless of
mask mandates and fear of infection.
It is obvious the coronavirus outbreak continues to
impact Idaho FFA; however, its members are strong
and resilient. There is no doubt that Idaho FFA will
continue to thrive, no matter what challenges arise.
5450 W. 11 th , Eugene, OR
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FFA SUPPORTER
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State officers join with members of the American Falls
Chapter to make Christmas wreaths during a chapter visit.
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This fall, the Idaho FFA State Officers traveled across the Gem State to visit as many chapters as
possible. These visits started the first week of October in the Northern Idaho District and ended the
first week of December with visits in both the East and North Magic Valley Districts.
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503-932-0766
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