A career in agriculture can require long hours to manage economic pressures, unpredictable weather outcomes and other variables. The resulting mental fatigue and stress can impair farmers' abilities to process information, concentrate and maintain productivity, increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Ironically, the same stress that can cause downtime can create a fatigue cycle that exacerbates the issues created by stress to begin with.
Farmers should try management tools and precision ag technology solutions during this year's Farm Safety and Health Week. Akin to a baker tinkering with ingredients to perfect a recipe, farmers can intentionally add different technologies or software to identify key ingredients for their well-being recipe. When they determine which tools work well for their farm and improve their process daily, they increase productivity and reduce stress. Consider these ingredients to create management systems that increase efficiency and reduce fatigue.
Imagine the time saved when you can track every piece of equipment with a single glance. What would this mean for a farm team? I spoke at an all-operator meeting for a large farm supplier company this summer. We discussed the numerous benefits of connected machinery through an MTG and JDLink that shares data among team members.
An operator shared that unplanned check-in calls disrupted his work and hindered his efficiency before a machine was connected. These calls from the manager made the operator feel micromanaged at times and raised stress levels for both team members. The operator began to fear he’d make mistakes, while the manager thought he had to take on extra work to prevent issues. Now, the operator and manager say an MTG improves communication by sharing real-time location, fuel or DEF usage and other essential info. This means the manager can do welfare checks and manage in a way that is convenient and reduces their stress when the operator they’re managing is just outside cellphone coverage.
Now, add the additional benefit of knowing about problems ahead of time. From getting codes from the machine to, in one manager’s case, discovering a truck’s excess idle time at an intersection was because the driver was stuck behind a traffic accident.
Operators no longer need to field repetitive phone calls from managers asking about acreage or fuel levels, allowing them to complete tasks without interruption. Managers can verify all their fleet's work when applicable machines are connected and send data to a Farm Management Software (FMS) like John Deere’s Operation Center™. When managers view their farm’s Operations Center account, they can dispatch support vehicles like nursing and fuel trucks at the right time to increase overall efficiency.
Managers can create maintenance plans in the Operations Center. Then, the manager or operator can proactively schedule maintenance tasks when they access hours, past work records and parts lists and create checklists for maintenance intervals. When managers grant access to the Operations Center, shop technicians no longer need to inquire about necessary maintenance tasks. Through MTG and an FMS, the farm team creates a streamlined system where tasks are clear, and everyone knows what to do next.
Agricultural professionals perpetually grapple with a cascade of issues, each demanding attention. Amidst this dynamic environment, stress and mental fatigue can arise from the constant decision-making process: Farmers must choose the right action and communicate that information to operators. Consider the example of a forward-thinking farmer who uses the Operation Center’s Work Planner application.
When operators clock in, they find a whiteboard displaying the fields that need attention. Then, when the operator opens the Work Planner app in the cab or from a mobile device, Work Planner auto-fills essential details, including required chemical treatments, field boundaries and guidance lines. With these tools, the farm team had a centralized space to share information and discuss tasks that they could quickly prioritize.
Without constantly seeking directions before proceeding with tasks, operators experience a meaningful increase in productivity and reduce the mental load on the whole farm team. Creating communication systems through technology and FMS fosters a more efficient environment where team members are informed and processes are streamlined.
After operators understand their daily tasks, they can turn on machine monitoring and control. AutoTrac Turn Automation (ATTA) is a machine control technology that automates tractor turns to maintain precise maneuvers. When ATTA is turned on, operators report ease of use and increased efficiency in fieldwork.
As operators work in the field, the manager monitors their fleet’s work. Managers reviewing their large commercial fleets can streamline order management and fleet coordination through Operations Center PRO Dispatch. Managers can review real-time map updates to help track each machine’s work and send operators a prioritized list of fields that need an application — even with mixed fleets. In their Operations Center PRO account, they calculate the total application productions required in that field with a push of a button before sharing that info.
If you’re looking for one short-term decision that can help manage second-guessing operational decisions, it’s as simple as connecting as many machines as possible to the Operations Center to automate data collection. Consider one farmer’s experience: They had 15 fields with Clearfield wheat and 15 with non-GMO wheat. They prioritized spraying the Clearfield wheat field and needed to communicate these tasks with their operator quickly, add their tank mix information and give an idea of how to get to those fields. To promptly identify those fields, the farmer relied on their FMS plus a trusted precision ag expert. Through the FMS and expert training, he queried the Operations Center's Variety Locator to define field prescription zones and shared that info with an operator. Data-driven decisions about crop management can reduce uncertainty and stress related to crop yields and financial outcomes.
Facts do not care about their feelings, but the lack of facts can affect your mental health. Implement more data management practices and reduce anxiety about crop failures or livestock health. Start by familiarizing yourself with the decision-making tools available through your FMS and the field data management technology you have on hand. Additionally, schedule time with your trusted precision ag expert and explore how automation can minimize decision-making mistakes to enhance equipment setup during critical tasks. Monitoring systems accessible from mobile devices allows farmers to check their operations from the dinner table or the stands at the Friday night football game.
Modern farm management software and data-driven tools can ease your workload and enhance accuracy. We all know farming can be challenging, time-sensitive and unpredictable, so it’s important to prioritize mental health and create an environment that promotes mental well-being. Empower your operators, too. Foster an environment that enables them to work efficiently. When they thrive, so does your operation. So, both of you can spend quality time with loved ones.
Trust the tools at your disposal — when used effectively, they can improve accuracy, speed and overall outcomes. Connected machines, FMS, machine control and precision ag data management technology are there to assist you. Whether playing with your kids, helping them with homework, or reading bedtime stories, these moments matter. So, take the time to perfect your mental well-being recipe and protect the best of yourself for the ones who matter most.
Erin Hightower
Erin Hightower has been working in farm planning and agronomy for 15 years. As an Agronomist at RDO Equipment Co., she works with team members and growers in the Northwest region, focused on education and training, and conducting field trials. She is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and Certified USDA NRCS Nutrient Management Planner, Certified Conservation Planner, and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planner.
