Practical Support For South Australian Farmers Under Seeding Pressure
What the F? has become a pretty common phrase on farms this year… and rightly so.
South Australian primary producers are heading into one of the most high pressure seasons in recent memory. After years of drought, recent rains have opened a hopeful opportunity for recovery. But using that opportunity will come at a cost.
Fuel prices, fertiliser costs, and input bills have all skyrocketed, right as growers are planing to get this year’s crop in the ground. The window is there – but so is the financial strain of trying to make it work.
A Tough Season With Real Pressure Building
With pressure building, Steph Schmidt, a South Australian farmer and psychologist, has moved quickly to put practical wellbeing skills in the hands of primary producers.
What the F? is a four-session online skills series built for SA primary producers. Backed by the SA Government’s $117 million Drought Support Package through PIRSA, the series has been designed to help right now, not six months down the track.
“Producers have been carrying drought for years, and now they’ve got rain — which sounds like good news, and it is. But seeding costs money. A lot of it. And the current world climate brings a whole new level of pressure to farming life,” Steph said.
And Steph is no ordinary psychologist. She lives and breathes farming life every day, running a mixed sheep and cropping operation at Worlds End and in the Mallee with her husband and three young sons. She also works as a registered psychologist having clocked up years of experience supporting rural communities.
“The pressure SA producers are carrying right now isn’t waiting. I didn’t want to build something perfect and launch it in six months. I wanted something useful, accessible and available now.”
~ Steph Schmidt
Here’s How What The F? Sessions Run
Each online session runs for 60 minutes, with daytime and evening options from April 17 through to May 8. Topics are practical and cover everything from taking care of yourself under pressure, managing relationships, making farm and business decisions in a tough season, and supporting others in your community without burning out.
“These aren’t webinars, and they’re not therapy. They’re interactive group skills sessions. You come, you work through something practical, and you leave with tools you can use — whether you’re in the tractor, stuck in the office, or juggling kids during school holidays.”
You can jump into one session or all four, and spots are capped at 30 to keep things real and conversational.
Registrations are open now via stephschmidt.com.au
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