Leading farm and rural advocacy groups urge Congress to fully fund Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network in fiscal 2020.

March 25, 2019

2 Min Read
Capitol Building Washington D C
tupungato_iStock_Thinkstock

In an effort to improve mental health support for farmers, ranchers and farmworkers, the National Farmers Union (NFU) and a broad coalition of leading farm and rural advocacy groups are urging Congress to fully fund the Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) in fiscal 2020.

FRSAN provides grants for extension services, state departments of agriculture, nonprofit organizations and other entities to provide stress assistance programs to farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and other agriculture-related occupations. Eligible programs include farm helplines and websites, training programs and workshops, outreach services and home delivery of assistance.

“As you know, farming is a high-stress occupation,” the groups said in a letter to leadership of the Senate and House agriculture appropriations subcommittees. “Financial risk, volatile markets, unpredictable weather and heavy workloads can all place a significant strain on farmers’, ranchers’ and farm workers’ mental and emotional well-being. This is exacerbated by the fact that 60% of rural residents live in areas that suffer from mental health professional shortages.”

The groups noted that the current prolonged downturn in the farm economy is causing even greater stress for farmers and ranchers. “Net farm income in 2018 was nearly 50% less than it was in 2013,” they said. “While current projections suggest slight improvements in 2019, a significant rebound could be years away.”

Congress provided $2 million in the fiscal 2019 appropriations bill for a pilot of the FRSAN program. The groups hope the pilot program will create an on-ramp to full program implementation.

“As the subcommittee develops the [fiscal] 2020 agriculture appropriations bill, we urge you to fully fund the FRSAN at $10 million,” the groups said. “This funding will be critically important in meeting the needs of farmers and ranchers as they endure increasing financial and mental stress.”

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Feedstuffs is the news source for animal agriculture

You May Also Like