What Happens When Farmers Get Hurt, Sick, or Burned Out? The Example of the French Substitute Farmer Program

Summary: Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations but also one of the most stressful. Yet, we often hear that farmers work through injuries, illnesses, or burnout even though doing so can delay recovery and in some cases, worsen their condition. In this webinar, Florence Becot from Pennsylvania State University and Andy Bater a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Board will discuss why farmers continue working despite health challenges and highlight the importance of developing substitute labor solutions to support farmers’ well-being and farm business viability. As an example of a long-established model, Julien Deroo and Karim Cheurfa Molinier will present the French substitute farmer program, la “Fédération des Services de Remplacement”. Started 50 years ago, this network of 300 non-profit organizations across France serves a dual purpose. First, it provides substitute labor so that work on the farm can continue while farmers regain their health as well as when they need to be away from the farm for other purposes. Second, it serves as a workforce development platform for the agricultural sector as many of the substitute farmers earn practical experience in addition to their school training and/or already have hands-on farming experience. 

Created by farmers for farmers and managed by them through a mix of funding sources, its membership includes 67,000 farmer members (15% of the farming population in France) and 15,000 substitute farmers, and it has facilitated the substitution of 5 million work hours on farms last year. Agnes Papone, a farmer and elected representative of a “Service de Remplacement” in the southeast of France, will then share her family’s experience using the program. We will leave time for an interactive discussion with the audience about opportunities and challenges to develop substitute farmer programs in the U.S.

Intended Audience: Farmer health and safety professionals, AgrAbility and FRSAN programs, CDC NIOSH Ag centers, researchers, representatives of farmer organizations, state and federal agencies of agriculture, staffers of legislators on agricultural committees