Farmers are facing increasing amounts of stress from social media and activists opposed to farming, which is causing mental health issues.

A better public understanding of agriculture was one of the key recommendations in a new report from Ottawa bringing awareness to mental health challenges in the ag sector.

This week, Conservative Members on the Standing Committee of Agriculture and Agri-Food released a study titled, "Mental Health-A Priority For Our Farmers."

Committee Member Earl Dreeshen, from Red Deer-Mountain View, who is himself a fourth generation farmer and a retired high school teacher, says when the public doesn't understand why you do things, it creates additional stresses.

"They would be attacked in the media by anti-farm groups and those that had other vested interests, so these are some of the things when you're a farmer and your home is your business, and your business is your home, it's hard to separate."

After many discussions with Universities, Dreeshen says there needs to be a collaborative approach to working with educators so they can have a better understanding of the agriculture world.

"I would really like to be able to see the next generation being taught by those teachers that have a full range of information coming that is strong, scientifically based and is going to help Canada as a whole."

The report suggests the Federal Government work with Provincial and Territorial Governments, stakeholders and education professionals to develop programs to be added to the curriculum, allowing Canadians to learn about the nature of food production and the pride farmers take in caring for their livestock and crops.

Committee members also heard from witnesses how product labeling plays a big role in the public perceptions of agriculture.

Other recommendations suggest the government implement regulations to ban false and misleading product labeling, such as those which suggest GMOs are a food ingredient.

The report includes a total of 10 recommendations to relieve farmers of hardships arising from initiatives like the federal carbon tax and concessions made in recent trade agreements.