General health and well-being for farm families. The general health of rural people is, by urban standards, very poor. Rural populations have above average rates of premature mortality and death through heart disease, cancer and suicide'. In 2002 the AIHW again noted that death rates are indeed higher outside metropolitan areas (AIHW: 2002:220).

Farming populations are  a subset of rural populations and data is sketchy and incomplete, but sufficient evidence has become available that indicates the health of farming families is at risk and likely to be worsening ( National Rural Health Alliance, 1999).