Mental Health

Will Congressional Inaction Force Farmers to Choose Between Health Insurance and Their Farm Budget?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:16:09 GMT

Healthcare insurance plans for some U.S. farmers could double in 2026, as enhanced federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are scheduled to expire.

The impending cost surge could affect thousands of U.S. farmers who currently rely on the ACA marketplace for their health insurance, according to the non-partisan KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation), a health policy organization.

KFF estimated in 2023 that 27% of “farmers, ranchers, and other agriculture managers” relied on individual ACA market coverage. Nationally, more than 22 million Americans rely on the ACA marketplace for insurance options.

Farmers ‘Don’t Have Many Options’
Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman, who testified before Congress last week, highlighted the severity of the potential cost increase on his family. He said he expects to pay double to purchase an insurance plan for 2026 that would be comparable to what his family had this year.

“That is an incredible cost for our family budget and for our farm budget,” Lehman stated. The fifth-generation farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union described how rising healthcare costs are colliding with already harsh economic realities in agriculture.

“Farmers right now are trying to make all sorts of decisions because commodity prices are low, because of the chaotic trade situation that we’re in and higher input prices. All these things have made a real crisis for a lot of our farmers,” said Lehman.

“Finding ways to deal with that, we just don’t have too many options. Farmers will buy less equipment or not make the necessary upgrades and equipment that they need to,” he added. “They’ll look at their input suppliers, and they’ll decide, ‘what can we do to get through just this year … to get a plan to put the crop in the ground?’”

Read the testimony of Aaron Lehman here. A portion of his testimony and discussion is also featured on a posting to YouTube .

Signup Deadlines For Coverage
The challenge for farmers trying to decide on what insurance policy to purchase is compounded by the deadline to enroll in ACA marketplace plans: People needed to choose their ACA plan by Monday for coverage to begin Jan. 1. Open enrollment continues in most states until Jan. 15 for coverage beginning Feb. 1.

Despite broad public support for an extension to the ACA tax credits — a KFF poll said 74% of Americans favor continuing the enhanced credits — a congressional standoff has so far failed to produce a solution:

Failed Votes: Both a Democratic plan to extend the enhanced tax credits for three years and a Republican proposal to replace them with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) failed to pass the Senate last week.
Impending Crisis: Nearly six in 10 enrollees (across all categories) told KFF they could not afford even a $300 annual increase in 2026 without significantly disrupting household finances.
Political Fallout: The issue of healthcare costs and expiring subsidies is highly polarizing, with some Republicans warning that a failure to address the problem could cost them legislative majorities in next year’s mid-term elections.

As the deadline for open enrollment closes and the Dec. 31 subsidy expiration date approaches, farmers must prepare for substantially higher health insurance costs in 2026 unless Congress acts to reach a last-minute agreement.

Young Farmers Need Better Options
During his testimony and ensuing discussion, Lehman stressed that healthcare isn’t just a personal household issue; it’s central to the future of American farming. With the average age of an Iowa farmer at 57, he said the sector desperately needs young and beginning farmers to return to the land. But without affordable, reliable health coverage, inviting the next generation back onto the farm becomes a far riskier proposition.

“You have to be very smart to figure out the plan that can bring the next generation on the farm,” he said, adding that many talented, innovative young people want to farm, but face daunting financial barriers — healthcare high among them. He noted that one of his sons works with him on their family operation, which is based in Polk County, Iowa.

Lehman framed affordable healthcare for farm families as an investment, not a handout: a way to make it possible for young farmers to feed their communities, support local and regional food systems, or continue larger family commodity operations.

“Extending the federal support for lowering the cost of health insurance is a true win for farmers and for all of rural America,” he said.

From Despair to Hope: Why a Farmer on the Brink of Suicide Chose to Keep Going

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:41:22 GMT

It’s starting to feel similar to the 1980s. Not only are farmers on the brink of financial collapse, but there’s another grim reality setting in: The number of farmers dying by suicide is on the rise, and it could be at a rate U.S. agriculture hasn’t seen since the 1980s.

Even though statistics on suicides among farmers aren’t reliable from the 1980s because many were deemed “accidents” during that time, some estimates point to more than 1,000 farmers dying by suicide during that crisis.

“Unfortunately, it just almost seems like it’s a pandemic situation. I mean, there’s a lot of it, and it’s sad,” says Brent Foreman, a farmer in Shelby County, Mo., who knows the impacts of farmer suicides all too well.

“From an agricultural perspective, there’s a lot of stress in this industry, especially now,” Foreman says. “And somebody that’s contemplating this. I would say, we as farmers, we like to try to fix things, and we’re pretty good at it, but you can’t fix everything. If you get to a point like that, please reach out to someone, a family member, a good friend. Just please try to get some help.”

Touched By Suicide Three Times

Foreman isn’t just a fellow farmer concerned about the number of farmer suicides today. He’s a life-long farmer who’s been impacted by farmers dying by suicide three times, and the first loss happened when he was just 12 years old.

“My grandfather was a wonderful man, the most important male figure in my life,” Foreman says. “It happened 54 years ago, and it leaves a heck of a hole in your heart still today.”

Sixteen years later, his younger brother died by suicide, another sudden and tragic loss where there were no signs something was wrong.

“And then just a little over two years ago, my brother-in-law, who was 68, took his life,” Foreman says. “I’m telling you, it’s a devastating thing for loved ones to have to go through. It is tough. It’s really tough.”

Foreman says with his brother-in-law, there were signs he was struggling. He tried to take his life one time, but didn’t succeed. That’s when the family tried to get him help, which he agreed to, even going in for treatment.

“We thought that things were getting better, but they weren’t,” Foreman says. “At the beginning, I consulted our preacher, and I said: ‘I need some prayer and I need some advice.’ And he said: ‘Well, I do want to tell you something. I want you to be able to be prepared if you fail. Can you handle that?’ And I said: ‘Well, what I can’t handle is if I don’t try. I have to try.’

Experiencing three suicides, all by loved ones he was extremely close to, has been devastating. Foreman says the emotions are still raw today.

“It’s tough to live with, going through that so many times,” he says. “When I was a youngster I always told myself, the hurt, that’s something I would never do to anyone else. I just made like a pact with myself that I would never do that, because I’ve seen and lived firsthand how it affects you. From a family’s perspective, the pain goes on and on; it doesn’t quit. My wife, from her perspective, I can just see it in her eyes almost daily, the devastation.”

‘When We Lose Hope, It’s a Dangerous Place to Be’

When a person loses hope, that’s when the situation turns bleak.

“Sadly, that is the end all for a lot of people,” Jolie Foreman, executive director at Shelby County Cares , says. “Hope is key. If you have hope, you can keep going. When you lose hope, it’s just a very dangerous place to be.”

Lafayette County, Mo., farmer Ethan Daehler has been there.

“It was actually 2019 was kind of my low point,” he says.

Just six years ago, this Missouri farmer hit rock bottom.

“I was pretty much just down in the dumps, ready to just give up on life,” he says. “Thank the Lord something happened that kind of changed my way of thinking.”

In his early 30s, Ethan Daehler knows what it’s like to be on the verge of suicide. In 2019, he hit a low point. But something saved him, and he hopes by sharing his story, he will reach other farmers in a similar state of mind, reminding them that life is worth living.

(Ethan Daehler, Missouri Farmer )

Battling ongoing pain from an accident and stress of work, as well as struggles with the dynamics of a family farm, it all compounded the issue and pushed Daehler to a breaking point.

“I had a full-time job at the time working for another farmer and trying to do my own small operation,” he says. “We had family issues, which happens to a lot of farmers. There is a lot that compounds into thoughts, it’s just not financial problems, and I think that’s what people need to understand.

Daehler is now proof that it’s worth finding a reason to live, and he is only sharing his story to possibly save someone who’s in a similar spot as he was in 2019.

“There’s more to life,” he says. “I’m in a tractor now, baling hay, this is my fourth cutting. This is what I kind of dreamed of. Find something you love doing.”

A Mission to Prevent Farmer Suicides

That pain is something that fueled his daughter-in-law’s work. Jolie Foreman is the executive director at Shelby County Cares , a nonprofit whose goal is to improve the quality of life for children, youth and adults.

“I knew that we were very resource poor,” Jolie says. “So when I heard that this opportunity was available, we jumped on it, and we’ve just grown from the bottom up. We are definitely grassroots. They had faith in us in what our vision was, and they invested in it.

Through a grant,Jolie’s initial focus wasn’t suicide, but as she started doing research, she discovered there was a desperate need to provide help.

“My family had been impacted by suicide, and that’s kind of why I had jumped on board in the beginning,” she says. “But once we sat down at the table and really started to dive into the names and being in a small town, we know all of those lives that have been lost to suicide up here, that the producer was the one that was struggling.”

Fall Typically Heightens the Stress and Struggles

Jolie says they are currently seeing an increase in the number of farmer suicides happening across the country. Some of that is due to the various stresses involved with farming, but she says the fall is typically when the number of suicides in agriculture rises even more.

“In the spring, there’s a lot of hope,” Jolie says. “You’re planting, you’re coming off of the year that may have been good, may have been bad, but there’s always hope in the spring. And come September, I think the stark reality starts to set in either the pricing and the yields.”

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month , and when it comes to agriculture the facts are startling. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The suicide rate among male farmers, ranchers and ag managers is 43.7 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the National Rural Health Association.

The mounting financial pressures unfolding across the agricultural economy are adding another layer to an industry that already faces one of the highest rates of suicide compared to any other profession.

“Suicide is one of those things that’s hard to put on a scale,” Jolie says. “I mean we know the lives we’ve lost. We unfortunately can’t see the lives that we’ve saved, but I do know from talking to the local ambulance district that the calls have definitely increased; 988 is a huge resource here, and those calls have gone up and increased exponentially. And just through conversations I know that that rural agricultural piece is pressing behind it.”

She says one of the most startling discoveries she’s made during her research and work is the desensitization to death among farmers. She says through various conversations, it’s a reality that’s sad but true.

It’s Not Just Financial Stress That Causes Strains on Farmers’ Mental Health

Jolie says it’s not just financial stress that causes these struggles. It’s also the fact farming comes with many stresses, and for the most part, many farmers are so isolated and might not have access to adequate healthcare.

AgriSafe says if you’re a farmer, rancher, or farmworker, you already know that your work can expose you to a variety of hazards. They believe that with proper education and access to knowledgeable health professionals, farmers can live a long, healthy, and productive life.

(The Total Farmer Health Model, AgriSafe)

According to AgriSafe’s Total Farmer Health , the financial factor is one that can compound mental health struggles, but there are other factors that lead to the risks of farmer suicides including:

Weather
Sleep
Cognition
Social
Diet
Hazards
Spirituality
Healthcare
Fitness

Signs to Watch

And for family and friends, there are signs to watch out for, including neglect of the farm or ranch or even an individual who makes a big financial moves.

“Financial moves are also huge, which is why we’ve talked to attorneys, and we also talked to the financial providers like different banks,” Jolie says. “Are they moving their money? Are they giving away prize possessions? Are they changing their wills? Are they creating a sudden will? We just want to give those resources the tools that they need just to be like, ’Are you okay?’

Daehler says his message for someone in a dark place is you’re not alone. That message is something the Foremans also wants farmers to know.

“I want them to know that we care. I want to know they feed and fuel the world, but if their bucket is empty, they can’t pour into others,” Jolie says. “It’s OK to not be OK, to talk about it, to reach out, to ask your neighbor, to not afraid if you do see something or change in behavior or more isolation. Don’t be afraid to have that conversation. And there are a lot of people that care.”

Suicide Prevent Hotlines

It’s important to remember no matter where you are, there is help. 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline .

And for farmers, there is a specific farmer crisis hotline you can call that is toll-free at 866.586.6746.

The American Farm Bureau also has a Farm State of Mind campaign which builds awareness to reduce stigma and provides access to information and resources that promote farmer and rancher mental health wellness. You can visit that list of resources here .

Break Free from the Winter Blues: 2 Steps to Keep Seasonal Depression at Bay

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:17:01 GMT

It doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, winter or fall, weather is always on the forefront of producers’ minds. While the slower seasons can offer relief from the usual on-farm stressors, winter can drain emotional batteries.

Ted Matthews of farmcounseling.org joined AgriTalk’s Chip Flory this week to breakdown why producers aren’t immune to the wintertime blues, and how to flip your outlook on life.

1. Control What You Can

Bad days on the farm can feel like a bad life. The uncontrollables can switch anyone’s mindset from positive to negative, but that long-term outlook can lead to depression, according to Matthews.

“If I’m a farmer who has to trudge through 10” of snow to get my job done, that’s going to impact my mindset more than if there wasn’t snow,” he says. “It takes effort to see the bright side.”

Read more: Shay Foulk: Set 100 Dreams for 2023

When uncontrollable events like weather strike, Matthews finds producers who can easily manage these situations are people who have skills to know what they have control over and have learned let go of what they can’t. For producers that don’t have these skills, he offers advice:

“Find what trips your trigger and keeps you excited about getting after it every day, and think about that each morning you wake up. That’s the first step to a happier outlook,” he says.

2. Be Selective on Social Media

Aside from operating in the elements, Matthews says social media can put a wedge in producers’ outlooks.

“To me, social media or the news can create more mental difficulty because you don’t know who or what to believe, and people end up angry over things that don’t exist. It only creates more stress,” he says.

Read more: John Phipps: The COVID Hangover? Why People Are Now Drinking More

Eliminating social media isn’t necessarily feasible, nor the answer, according to Matthews. He finds the key to better mental health is in being selective about what content people are consuming.

The Solution

“It’s okay to feel sorry for ourselves that we have to work in the elements, or work to find things to do in the winter,” he says. “After you feel those things, ask yourself what you can do to make the situation better by coming up with a gameplan.”

Matthews suggests:
1. Find something to look forward to in the short-or long-term.
2. Plan a vacation
3. Socialize—go to a movie or get a bite to eat.

“Find something to break up the monotony of winter that is helpful. It might not be a complete fix to the underlying issue, but a little better is a little better.”

To hear more from Matthews, reach out to him at farmcouseling.org .

Congress Can't Ignore the Mental Health Crisis Anymore, Costa Says

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:18:51 GMT

More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. U.S. Representative Jim Costa (D-CA) says Congress cannot ignore the mental health crisis in America anymore.

Costa, along with Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Mike Bost (R-IL), and Zach Nunn (R-IA), introduced the bipartisan Farmers First Act , which would expand and improve behavioral health services in rural communities and connect those in times of crisis with trained medical professionals to receive the personalized care that they need.

“Rural farming communities have limited or no access to mental health services – making it difficult for farmers, farmworkers and their families to get the support they need,” Costa said in a release .

The bill is designed to expand vital, life-saving mental health services across rural America.

“Our farmers and producers are the backbone of our nation’s economy; and their job isn’t easy. It’s a stressful business where livelihoods can be impacted by outside – and sometimes uncontrollable – factors, like market conditions, financial pressures and the weather,” Bost said in a release . “It’s important that they have somewhere to turn in times of need. I’m proud to help lead this legislation to expand access to mental health services for our hardworking Americans in rural communities. They need to know they are not alone, and that help is available.”

The Farmers First Act would reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) and ensure rural communities have access to certified community behavioral health clinics, critical access hospitals and rural health centers.

“Farmers and farm workers are some of the toughest, hardest working people I know, but farming is a uniquely stressful job and we’ve got to get them the support they need,” Craig said. “I’m working across the aisle to ensure that farmers and rural Americans know that there are resources available to them to help deal with stress and mental health challenges.”

Read More from PorkBusiness.com:

Relax! Asking for Help is Not All About You

Mental Health on the Farm: One Swine Production Manager’s Story

It’s About To Be Pork’s Big Moment (Don’t Mess It Up!)

How to Manage On-Farm Stress in the Coming Busy Season

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:31:05 GMT

The trees and grass in the Midwest continue to maintain their bright shades of green. But, before long, the leaves will begin to turn brown and make their way to the ground. Any seasoned Midwesterner knows this as a signal of the approaching harvest season.

Harvest brings about many stressors for farmers. Rain delays, machinery malfunctions, and a yearning for on-farm help are just a few of the many thoughts on the forefront of a row-crop farmer’s brain. To better understand our concerns in hopes of harnessing the power to manage them, AgriTalk host Chip Flory sat down with Ted Matthews from farmcounseling.org.

Matthews explains recognition is the first step to understanding how to manage any stress in life.

“First, you need to say to yourself it [harvest] is stressful. So, what are you going to do with your stress, rather than say ‘Oh well?’ If that’s how you got your equipment ready, you’d still be harvesting in December.”

Relationships, according to Matthews, are a key component to running a smooth operation in any season. Whether it’s the relationship with your spouse or the relationship with your grain hauler, Matthews suggests being hyperaware of your communication styles in any busy season.

“You know, the number one time to do marriage counseling with farmers is right after harvest because they’re nasty. And yes, we understand that with stress you get angry and say things, but you need to remember the things you say can really hurt someone’s feelings. Even though you and your spouse both understand that harvest is stressful, it still hurts your partners feelings and they’re going to hold onto that, so beware of it.”

With a variety of variables in the agricultural industry, Matthews shares a good share of farmers seek control. However, the recommended approach is to keep your focus on what you can change.

“Understand that sleep deprivation, stress and anxiety are all natural things that go along with being a farmer. You have to figure out what you can control and learn not to focus on all the things you have no control over,” Matthews says. “When you have corn with too much moisture, you have to wait—and that drives farmers crazy. Well, driving you crazy or not driving you crazy, you have to wait. The more you can understand and accept the things that you have no control over, the better you’ll be able to control things you do have control over.”

Matthews told Flory many farmers seek a form of self-medication to ease on-farm stressors. According to the counselor, repercussions from these habits can radiate throughout your family, as well as your operation.

“If I’m really needing to self-medicate, I need to identify that. And the people around me need to identify that too, because that’s not an honest reality. We need to look at mental health a lot more like we look at all other things in our life. Are you a better farmer when you self-medicate? Be aware and be honest with yourself to ask if this is making problems for your family and farm.”

Sleep deprivation is a large obstacle for many farmers in both spring and fall. Matthews says it’s easy to cast judgement on yourself for getting too much sleep or not enough, but there is a solution.

“I often ask farmers how many hours of sleep they need each night, and I always say ‘need’. Some say five, some say eight. But when harvest time comes, why do you think that changes? Sure, you still need that initial amount, and if you don’t get it, it’s going to be a lot harder for you to function. The person you’re working alongside, if they require fewer hours of sleep, then you’re obviously going to have a lot more difficulty functioning compared to them,” Matthews told Flory. “Farmers, when they hear that four-letter word, it drives them crazy. You know, if you want to call a farmer lazy, you might as well just slap him upside the head because that’s exactly what it feels like. So, before harvest, you have to build that into your plan; you have to establish what you need, fill in the blank, and go from there.”

To hear more from Ted Matthews, visit his website: https://www.farmcounseling.org

Listen to the full conversation on AgriTalk below:

Work-Life Balance is More than a Buzzword

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:13:02 GMT

As you aim to retain employees, a good work-life balance helps everyone thrive in their personal lives and on the farm.

It can be a struggle to make all employees happy. Your employees struggle with this, too. Farming can be long hours, which means less time for other important aspects of life such as family, friends, hobbies and self-care. When employees have a good balance between work and life, they feel a greater sense of control and ownership over their own lives. They tend to have better relationships with management and co-workers. On the other hand, when employees DON’T have the right balance between work and life, they suffer from unhappiness, burnout and frustration.

Employees who are not happy give less effort and teamwork. They may even consider changing jobs. According to a MetLife 2019 Study, over 92% of workers are willing to change industries.

The power dynamic has changed! As a result, employers must do everything possible to invest in their employees’ enrichment, not only at work but also in their personal lives.

A good work-life balance can fuel employees with:

Improved health due to less stress
More significant commitment to their job and their teams
Improved engagement at work
Less work-related conflicts
Greater loyalty to your business

Fortunately, there are initiatives you can implement to improve the work-life balance for your employees. These benefits will not only improve morale but also help you retain your good employees.

Lead by Example

Create your own work-life balance that employees can resonate with.

Provide an open-door policy, allowing employees to communicate with you openly. It is remarkable how many issues can be worked out if your staff feels free to have open discussions.

Allow limited carry-over of PTO. As employers, we want our workers to take time off to rest and enjoy themselves with family or friends.

Attempt to create a mix of duties that includes both inside and outside work

Offer flexible hours. The workday is no longer one-size-fits-all. Your employees want to attend their kid’s soccer games occasionally.

Provide creative incentives. Family movie passes along with Friday night off.

Provide the benefits they want and need. Not everyone needs health insurance, or many won’t take it. Consider alternatives such as gift cards for gas and oil changes or a beef steer/pay for processing, accounting or tax services.

Provide wellness initiatives. Free or partial membership to a health club or develop a wellness challenge like weight loss.

Organize team-building activities. Soccer, volleyball or softball teams.

Encourage employee training and education.

Incorporate stay interviews yearly to learn what your employees like about the job and what could be improved.

Host a “bring your family to the farm day.” This event allows employees to show their families where they work and what they do. In addition, on-farm days can be a great educational experience for family members.

Host monthly employee and family night dinners on the farm.

Create a safe and healthy working environment.

Recognize employee’s hard work.

In a world where job opportunities are endless, take the necessary steps to develop areas of work-life balance within your teams. Then, not only will you retain your current employees, but your business will have a reputation for encouraging a solid work-life balance making you more attractive to future new hires.

Why Mental Health Matters on the Farm

Wed, 11 May 2022 20:10:31 GMT

A little bit better is a little bit better, said Ted Matthews, director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health, an outreach program that supports farmers and the extreme pressures they face.

When it comes to mental health, Matthews told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory on Tuesday, “People think you’ve got to hit the home run, or it doesn’t count. That’s so untrue. If I feel better, I’m building towards something that was better than what I had. So why wouldn’t anyone want to do that?”

There seems to be a growing willingness in agriculture to participate in the conversation about mental health, Flory said.

Matthews attributes this to people beginning to look at mental health not as a disease, but as mental health.

“People are focusing on being healthier,” Matthews said. “Like anything else, if you take care of yourself early, you won’t have to worry about taking care of yourself later. It truly is a lifetime commitment to feel better about yourself. If you feel better about yourself, you’ll be able to deal with other people a lot better, and life will be a much more pleasant experience.”

Does Talk Result in Action?

It’s not just talk, Matthews said. More people are reaching out to Minnesota Rural Mental Health earlier during challenging situations. Instead of calling because there’s a crisis, more people are calling when they’re having difficulty with one situation or another.

Matthews said seeking advice or guidance means you’re trying to find a solution – that’s a positive step forward. The most important part is to be honest about how you are feeling in that moment.

“Is talking to someone helping you?” Matthews asked. “For example, clergy can be a great resource, and clergy can be a bad resource. It just depends - just like talking to your spouse, your friends, your neighbors. Remember we are all different and if those things help you, that’s great.”

He said his concern is when people avoid talking to someone because they think it’s easier to just handle on their own.

“Why not give it a shot? Why not talk to a professional if you’re feeling there’s still a lot of anxiety around a situation?” he asked. “You don’t have to see somebody for 50 sessions. Sometimes one will work, sometimes just a few.”

What Holds People Back?

When it comes to anxiety specifically, Matthews said some people can handle 150 things, while some people can handle three.

“We’re all different,” Matthews said. “In farming, there’s always anxiety. When is there not?”

Because of this, he said it’s especially important for farmers to understand what they can and can’t handle, and what they need to do to take care of themselves.

“For some people, that means they have to deal with [the source of anxiety] right away. For other people, they can handle things for a lot longer,” Matthews said. “We’re wired differently. Taking care of ourselves can have a lot of different ways of going.”

What Can You Expect in Counseling?

Flory said he was talking to a farmer who opened up that it made him anxious to reach out to a professional. He asked Matthews to explain what people can expect when they talk to a counselor.

Find someone you’re comfortable talking to, Matthews advised. If you’re not comfortable with one professional, don’t stop trying until you find someone you connect with.

“Understand all you’re doing [in counseling] is identifying things,” he added. “You get to decide whether that’s helpful or not. If it’s not helpful, then what other directions can you go? If it is helpful, then how do you get more of it?”

Most importantly, don’t categorize counseling before you even start, Matthews said. You have nothing to lose from trying it.

For more information, contact farmcounseling.org .

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, raising awareness about mental illness and related issues in the U.S., and helping reduce the stigma so many experience.

Read More:

Break the Stigma: It Starts With You and Me

By Her Own Hand: A Farm Girl’s Miraculous Journey from Death to Hope

Breaking Taboo: Parent’s Worst Nightmare, Child’s Near-Fatal Decision

Mental Health Adversity Allowed Wisconsin Dairy Couple to Learn the Value of “Best Yes”

More Resources on Mental Health Wellness:

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

Toxic Grit: Is Our Greatest Strength Our Greatest Weakness on the Farm?

Stress: Action is Key

Farmers, Ranchers Have Ways to Manage Stress

Suicide Prevention: Your Worth Isn’t Measured By The Markets

Don’t Let Social Distancing Lead to Social Isolation

Connect With Farmers In-Person On Mental Health

Simple, Daily Habits to Help Manage Stress

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

When Your Trampoline Breaks: Avoid Isolation

7 Steps to Reduce Farm and Financial Stress

How and Why to Laugh, Even When it’s Hard

Watch for Signs of Suicidal Risk on Your Farm

Farm Aid Ramps Up Mental Health Resources to Help Farmers

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:44:17 GMT

Mental health support services are hard to find in rural areas. Did you know that 90 million people live in designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas? About 4,000 to 6,000 new mental health professionals are needed to fill that gap nationwide, Farm Aid says in a release.

To further complicate this, farmers are struggling with a 50% decrease in net farm income since 2013 and the incidence of farmer stress is reaching a high point. In 2018, the predicted median net farm income is a loss of $1,300, and prices are not expected to rise in the near future. Meanwhile, production expenses and interest rates are increasing, putting family farmers in a predicament.

The Farm Aid hotline was established to connect farmers with operators who are familiar with agriculture and with resources for farmers around the country. Staff refer farmers to an extensive network of farm and rural support organizations across the country, including many specific to mental health services. Farm Aid’s Hotline Team has direct and intimate knowledge of what it means to be a farmer in the U.S. today.

“Today, mental health support services — both professional and church- and community-based — are less available and accessible in rural areas than they were in the 1980s, due to factors such as fewer people attending church, fewer community-building events in which people can interact/establish relationships in rural areas, and a decrease in overall population among rural areas,” Farm Aid explained.

Farm Aid hotline operators work with hotline callers to find the best resources for their individual situation, whether they are looking for assistance with farm stress, financial issues, legal questions or business-related questions.

“In general, rural residents have higher rates of depression, substance abuse and completed suicide. However, farmers face additional challenges to maintaining their mental health,” Farm Aid said.

Mental health professionals point to the nature of farming as one likely cause — it is a business largely influenced by factors that are beyond farmers’ control, including weather, disease, pests, prices and interest rates, and which can come and go without warning. Farmers can be isolated, geographically and socially, since they often work alone.

“Farmers are self-reliant, independent and can be unlikely to ask for help. Many come from a tradition of not sharing their challenges, choosing instead to tough them out on their own,” Farm Aid said. “They work long, hard days and may deprioritize their own health and well-being to get the job done. Stress as a concept may often be seen by farmers as something that urban office dwellers experience.”

Farming itself is unique, and many clinicians don’t “get it,” the release points out. Farmers cannot be advised to take a vacation or search for a less stressful job.

“Farmers feel a tremendous weight at the possible loss of their land, the possibility that they could be the one to lose something that has been in their family for generations. Their role as a farmer is at the root of their identity; it’s their culture, not just a job,” Farm Aid said.

Beginning and established farmers and farmworkers are encouraged to call the Farmer Hotline at 800-FARM-AID (800-327-6243). The Farm Aid Hotline staff has an existing database of Spanish resources and they are working to expand this database even further. Learn more at farmaid.org .

Read More:

Join the Conversation Around Mental Health: You Just Might Save a Life

How to Lighten Your Load When Stress Piles Up

By Her Own Hand: A Farm Girl’s Miraculous Journey from Death to Hope

When Stress Goes Beyond Normal

Why Mental Health Matters on the Farm

How Long Will You Carry Those Rocks? A Guide to Mental Health

5 Ways to Work Through Difficult Times

Mental Health on the Farm: One Swine Production Manager’s Story

Don’t Doubt Your Purpose When You Find Yourself in a Weird Spot

Your Mental Health Toolbox: How To Recognize The Warning Signs

30 Minutes With Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins In Her First Week On the Job

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:23:17 GMT

Since Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 , Brooke Rollins has been focused on how to build the teams and the plans that impact the trajectory of agriculture and rural America. On that day, while en route with her husband and four teenagers in their motor home to Auburn, Ala., for the Texas A&M football game, she got a call from now President Donald Trump. The purpose of his call: She was his top choice to fill his final significant cabinet position, Secretary of Agriculture.

Obviously, she had to wait for confirmation, which came last week on Feb.13 when the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed her as the 33^rd Secretary of Agriculture , but since that Saturday before Thanksgiving, she’s been on the go with an accelerated enthusiasm to understand the significant challenges facing rural communities that lost 147,000 family farms between 2017 and 2022 and why the cost of inputs are up 30% as exports are down $37 billion this year and likely to fall further in the months to come.

“This is a crisis, and this is something that I understand inherently,” Rollins said to kick off Top Producer Summit in Kansas City on Tuesday. “My promise to you is this, and my commitment will never waver, that every minute of every day for the next four years I will do everything within my power, with hopefully God’s hand on all of us and our work, to ensure we are not just entering the golden age for America, as my boss, President Trump, likes to say, but we are entering the golden age for agriculture.”

What Has Rollins Been Up to the Past Four Years?
Secretary Rollins and President Trump have worked together for almost eight years. She was in the West Wing with him for years two, three and four of his first term running his domestic policy agenda.

“This real estate guy from New York City brought that vision to life, and then in the last term, was able to really do some remarkable things,” Rollins said in regard to President Trump returning power to the people who just want a chance at the American dream. “I call it the great pause, the four years in between term one and term two. But I think the great pause allowed very intentional planning. It allowed a courageous and bold leader in President Trump to become a fearless leader and to do everything he can to bring America back to greatness.”

In the “dark days of January 2021,” as she described, Secretary Rollins helped launch the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump officials to promote conservative policies. The idea was that those policies that made America great in Trump’s first term would continue indefinitely, not just for a second term, but for four years, eight years or 36 years, Rollins described.

First Week On the Job
Since being confirmed last week, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington, D.C., USDA office for a few hours, but most of her time has been spent in Kentucky at National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville and Gallrein Farms and in Kansas visiting Finney’s County Feeder, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy and the National Beef Packing Plant .

Describing herself as “a reader and a studier,” Rollins seems adamant to hear firsthand from farmers and ranchers. She referenced her visits to the dairy farm and National Beef facility as inspiring, in a good way but also in a way that helps her understand the real challenges at hand.

Speaking to the crowd at Top Producer Summit, she shared her appreciation for the “entrepreneurial American game changers” who are doing their part to feed the world.

“It is so inspiring and a reminder of the very beginning of our country.” Rollins said. “Our revolution was fought by farmers, our Founding Fathers, like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The backbone of the great American experiment is this community.”

Thank you @topproducermag for hosting @RogerMarshallMD and me in Kansas City, Missouri, with 1,000 of the Top Producers from across the US to talk about issues like expanding trade access and cutting regulatory red tape for farmers.

Biden’s ZERO trade deals and inflationary… pic.twitter.com/ejMxKxkRMG
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) February 19, 2025

Farmer Q&A
Watch and listen to what Secretary Rollins, as well as Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, had to say on stage at Top Producer Summit about these 7 topics:

Trade and tariffs — “ Let’s go barnstorm the world , and let’s go find some more trade partners and access [to market opportunities],” Rollins said.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts and modernizing USDA — “DOGE is a very valid and important effort across all government. The stories of waste and abuse were really just, not USDA specific but across government, beginning,” Rollins said.
Federal programs, such as CSP and EQIP — “Our commitment is that if there have been commitments made, those will be honored. Getting our arms around all of that right now is really, really, important. Again, going back to the President’s heart and commitment to our farmers, I feel confident we will be able to solve any issues that are in front of our ag community, that are potentially being compromised by the DOGE effort, while at the same time recognizing how very, very important it is,” Rollins said.
Future of USDA — “There’s no question USDA needs some modernization. I’m just beginning to lean into that as well,” Rollins said. USDA has 106,000 employees and 29 departments. “The Secretary is taking over a department where only 6% of the [D.C.] people work in the office,” Marshall added.
Renewable fuels — Prior to President Trump’s first term, he was “the first major candidate to support biofuels, and I think that carried him through Iowa in many ways. … We’ve got E15 year-round. I think that gives us some certainty as well. … The President is supporting that. I think we’re trying to figure out how to save 45Z, but we can’t let China benefit from it. Right now, China is benefiting more from [45Z] than my farmers and ranchers are, so we’ve got to fix that,” Marshall says.
Immigration policies and availability of long-term labor — “I have a full-bodied understanding of the challenges within the labor market, and I believe the President does too. … I believe that we will very soon be talking about it again. Clearly, the H-2A program needs significant reform, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, she’s going through the [confirmation] process right now. … Hopefully she’ll get her vote very soon. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Rollins said.
Trump’s cabinet members — “Our cabinet is comprised of people that have been working together and have been friends and colleagues for years, with a few exceptions. Bobby Kennedy is a new friend, but Lee Zeldin and I worked together in America First Works and America First Policy Institute for the last almost four years, Linda McMahon in education and John Brooks — these are our people,” Rollins said.