FAIRMONT — These days, farmers are dealing with uncertainty and confusion created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have had to dump excess milk, plow under fields and even face the prospect of euthanizing livestock. All of which means they are not getting paid and their very way of life is at risk.

In the face of such troublesome times, depression and despair can set in, even for the most resilient.

Local farmer Wanda Patsche shared what she has seen occurring among some hog farmers.

“I know one particular farmer who did have to euthanize about 60 head here recently, and he said after they did it he literally went home and cried. I know some of these farmers that have large farms, and one who lives about an hour away had to euthanize about 4,000 head.”

“It’s just such a crisis that we’re in disbelief,” she added. “To try to process it within ourselves and within our family is very difficult, and I’m very concerned about the mental health aspect.”

Patsche explained the depth of farmers’ concerns.

“You euthanize your animals and then you’re getting zero dollars for those animals and you have to pay to get them disposed of,” she said. “How do you pay your vet bill, your feed bill, the electricity or insurance when you have zero dollars coming in? We’re not talking a couple hundred dollars, we’re talking thousands of dollars.

“So I’m concerned that some could very possibly end up losing farms. We just don’t know; this is a path that none of us knows what it looks like.

“We’re all just nervous about everything and we definitely don’t want anymore (meat) processing plants to go down. I don’t know how much further down we can go, and that would just be devastating. It is already.”

Behavioral Health program manager Anna Garbers of Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties says there are resources out there for farmers.

“We know how passionate farmers are about this work, and you have to take care of yourself to be able to do it,” she said. “If you are feeling overwhelmed or are struggling, we want you to know that we care and that there are options for help.

“If you need someone to talk to, the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline is available 24/7. Call (833) 600-2670. It’s free and confidential.”

Other resources shared by Garbers include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, the Crisis Text Line through which people can text MN to 741741, Horizen Homes South Central Crisis Center at (507) 344-0621. Local contacts in Fairmont include Mayo Clinic, Euonia Family Resource Center, New Directions Healing Center and Dr. Joeseph Switras. In Blue Earth, there is the Adult, Child and Family Servics LLC and the United Hospital District. It is noted that many of these resources are currently utilizing telehealth services.