Our Impact
Making A Difference in Our County
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working hard for its constituents. The following are examples of Extension’s impact in the county over the past year.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Title: Farmer Stress Care Packages Improve Farmer Sentiment Post Hurricane Helene
Author: Miller, Jennifer T.
Summary: Devastation after Hurricane Helene activated Extension response to the immediate and long-term needs of Jeff Davis County farmers.
Situation: Jeff Davis County was hit by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024. The storm was responsible for at least $5.5 billion in agricultural and timber losses across southeastern Georgia. The county experienced a 100% power outage and loss of cellphone coverage. Many people were without power for weeks, and cell service for several days. Ninety-eight percent of the roads in Jeff Davis County were impassable. This storm hit at the beginning of the peanut harvest season and added more work and stress to agriculture producers who were already experiencing a challenging year with decreased commodity prices. The 2022 study: “Farmer’s Mental Well-Being Project: Statewide Survey Report,” conducted by Mercer University, showed 42% of farm workers, managers, and owners had thought of suicide in the past year. Twenty-nine percent of those reported thinking of it once a month. The percentage of suicidal thoughts was higher in first generation farmers versus those who grew up in farming and continue to farm themselves. Recovery after Helene was overwhelming and slow. Many producers were working long hours to help their neighbors and themselves meet their basic needs. On farm visits, the agent began to see visible signs of stress, change in routine, change in mood, and lack of interest in current farm projects.
Response
UGA Extension, as well as numerous faith-based and private organizations, reached out with donations to address immediate needs. Visiting growers a week after the storm allowed us to distribute food supplies and gain an understanding of how to assist them. As time went on, basic needs were met, but the overall sentiment in the agriculture community was bleak. Growers and their families were tired and stressed. Harvest season was underway, but cleanup continued. Many farmers had to hire extra help to clear debris from their fields just to begin harvesting. Several months after the storm, it became clear that people needed ways to reduce stress and feel like things were improving. The county agent worked with fellow Extension professionals to put together materials on farmer stress and gather supplies for a care package for growers. The UGA College of Agriculture secured donations of UGA logo materials (stress balls, lunch coolers) and printed farmer stress materials. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health gave 988 suicide hotline magnets. A local sales representative for Ariat donated work gloves, and the Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau paid to have farmer t-shirts printed. The Faith, Farming, Ag Strong t-shirt design embodied a message of hope with the commodities pictured as well as the 988 hotline at the bottom. The county agent assembled eighty-four farmer stress care packages, each with a value of $60. Over January and February 2025, site visits were made to deliver the packages.
Impact
The care package provided the county agent with an opportunity to discuss farm stress and coping mechanisms with growers, without being too intrusive regarding the mental health aspect. Many growers were dealing with financial strain, post-storm exhaustion, and decision fatigue. The agent noted many farmers were struggling to keep up with standard farming practices and decisions because they had been under strain for months. They no longer cared about things they once found very important. Not only did the care packages open up honest dialogue about stress, but it also allowed us to lift their spirits. One grower said, “It's nice to know that Extension is thinking about us”. The hurricane also enabled the agent to interact with many of the grower’s wives and family. One farmer's wife said, “I have worried about my husband more since the storm. I put the 988 magnet on our fridge. Maybe if he does not want to talk to me, he can see that and know he can talk to someone”. Natural disaster recovery takes a toll on all people in a community differently. Having gone through this hurricane has changed the way many people think, but it has also allowed everyone to show others how much they care. From clearing roads with their own heavy equipment to helping neighbors water their cows, the farming community helps one another. At the end of the day, a small care package may not seem like much, but to one person, knowing someone was thinking about them may be the thread that holds them together for one more day.