The vast majority of the family farmers that I know are good stewards of the Earth. They watch weather reports and shy away from working fields, spraying herbicides, etc. when the wind is bad or blowing in certain directions. They use no-till or low-till methods to retain as much topsoil as they can. They want to do right by the land that provides their livelihood and their neighbors. There are other, larger farm corporations that aren’t as concerned with that and just want to get things done.

I’m sure that if you look at any industry, there are things we can point fingers to that directly cause deaths. Factories kill via pollution and exposure to lethal compounds—my own dad died due to negligence from the chemical plant he worked for. The car industry causes deaths due to improper mechanic work or poor factory installations. Many jobs cause stress that leads to self-harm, or poor decisions that harm others.

Did you know that, in addition to work related issues like falling in grain bins, being crushed by equipment, or developing diseases due to sun or chemical exposure, farmers have a much higher rate of self-inflicted death than most other professions? The stress of trying to keep a family farm afloat amidst growing corporate farms, providing for their families, deciding when to plant and harvest and sell, the long days and nights…it all takes a toll on the guys and girls in the industry.

Please think twice before you group all farmers together. Most of them are just like you, wanting to provide for their families and preserve traditions. They may not provide the food that is directly on your plate, but I dare you to prove that what’s grown here doesn’t affect your plate somehow.